The American Spectator : Shooting a RINO

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Shooting a RINO

By George Neumayr on 2.29.12 @ 6:10AM

Romney survives Santorum's bullets but the "frontrunner" is bleeding.

Despite his wins on Tuesday in Arizona and Michigan, Mitt Romney remains the convictionless centrist who simply can't inspire the right, or even the center for that matter. Analysts across the ideological spectrum deem him a dud candidate -- a flawed and wounded frontrunner who pays for his demoralizing squeakers and empty victories on his debit card.

Even a paltry win in Michigan is a loss, said a few pundits, noting the erosion of support Romney saw in his home state since winning it easily in 2008 over John McCain.

Romney's success in the primaries, to the extent that it exists, appears largely artificial -- a function not so much of his personality and political philosophy but his fat wallet, SuperPac assassination team, and the sheer luck of finding himself in a field of wan and cashless candidates.

"Thank you, Kid Rock," said Ann Romney not long before surrendering the floor to Mitt at his Michigan "celebration." Some celebration. Is this really the best that the GOP can do? If so, may God help us all.

Obama vs. Obama lite -- this is the race ahead unless conservatives derail Romney's candidacy in the Deep South. Newt Gingrich is quietly biding his time in Georgia. Santorum's loss may make the former Speaker of the House relevant again.

Where is the outrage, conservatives? Why would they, almost two years after the Tea Party restored the GOP to Congressional power, want to nominate as their head a Northeast RINO who embodies the antithesis of the Tea Party movement? This makes no sense, either philosophically or politically. I repeat: a party that chooses "power" over principle will lose both.

Romney's "electability" argument, which already sounded ludicrous, looks even weaker this morning in light of his struggles to win Democrats in his home state's open primary. "Santorum Democrats" is a phrase I heard from pundits. I didn't hear any of them refer to "Romney Democrats." Some pundits said that Santorum, despite losing, could end up winning more counties in Michigan than Romney, owing to the latter's weak showing.

When will the GOP ever learn? Centrists never win the center. They lose it and demoralize the right.

Perhaps a charismatic RINO could win a slice of the center. But Romney suffers from a lackluster personality for a candidate who aspires to unseat Obama. At times, Romney almost seems like an acharismatic robot, so fundamentally boring and plastic even his supporters strain to show enthusiasm for him. Some pols lack style but boast substance. Others lack substance but sparkle with style. Romney displays neither.

On top of all these problems lies the most troubling one: he is not and never will be a conservative and can't even learn how to play one on TV. To see him trot off to the Daytona 500 as a "NASCAR Republican" is laughable -- yet another phony moment in the campaign which he managed to make worse by citing his rich pals who own some of the cars in the race and by jesting at the expense of the pancho-wearing hoi polloi.

Liberals pundits, who normally rejoice at the sight of a RINO reclaiming the GOP from the Tea Party, have had to admit that Romney is a lousy candidate. Romney isn't improving on the campaign trail and is even getting worse, says Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post. Other members of the liberal chattering class called his wooden campaigning -- in which he praised the height of Michigan's trees and enumerated his wife's Cadillac collection -- farcical. It is never a good sign when your "frontrunner" generates belly laughs from your opponents.

Campaign correspondents on Fox News delicately describe Romney's frontrunner status as "fragile." Like Jon Huntsman -- the Obama diplomat who pledged to campaign against Obama diplomatically (at the start of his nothing campaign, he promised to run a wholly "positive" race and avert his gaze from the president's disgraces and failures) --

Romney leaves the rank and file cold. In fact, he sounds more and more like Huntsman, particularly in moments of fatigue when the real Romney -- the Bay State liberal who voted for Paul Tsongas, gave money to Planned Parenthood, and forefathered Obamacare -- comes back out to play.

Romney had one such moment the other day when he disparaged his opponents for "incendiary" remarks lobbed at Obama. Apparently that offends Romney's ingrained moderate sensibilities. Santorum shot at him and missed in Michigan. But conservatives better keep firing or they will find themselves stomped by this RINO the establishment is riding.

About the Author

George Neumayr is a contributing editor to The American Spectator.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (320) | Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.29.12 @ 6:17AM

First, a loss in Michigan was a big deal for Romney. Now a win in Michigan was no big deal for Romney, in fact, according the commentator, it was disastrous.

So, when Romney loses he's a loser, but when he wins he's still a loser. Talk about trifling politics.

No, the real losers were Santorum and Gingrich. Remember Gingrich?

Why is Santorum running? So far he hasn't won much and appears to take great delight in slamming the front runner although it's obvious
now that after Super Tuesday the only honorable thing for Santorum to do
is drop out of the race. Gingrich should also be gone.

Super Tuesday will expose the weaknesses in both Santorum and Gingrich.

Where is the profit motive for Gingrich and Santorum? Both Gingrich and Santorum have found some suckers who will donate and keep them in business. But what's the point now?

If either Santorum or Ginrich stay in after Super Tuesday then you will know there is a third reason for sticking around, perhaps a deal where they receive some funds in the future. You mean that politicians could get paid simply to run for office in an attempt to derail a candidate? It wouldn't be the first time
nor last.

Neither Santorum or Gingrich are real conservatives so the entire conservative argument for both is
phony and misleading.

Rush Limbaugh pumped Santorum all week but it didn't do any good. Limbaugh is losing his touch in some ways although he remains one of the nation's top political commentators.

In short, the Santorum campaign never made much sense. Were there ulterior motives? Did the losing candidates unknowingly or knowingly serve the purpose of an outside source?

Anyway, don't get your hopes up for a brokered convention. It won't even be close.

Vern Crisler| 2.29.12 @ 9:47AM

The reason Santorum and Gingrich are in the race is that they want to save the Republican Party and hence save America. Now, it seems neither goal will be reached.

Chris| 2.29.12 @ 10:10AM

Vern, snap out of it. Never give up--Churchill said it. Buckle down and drive on. This race is far from over.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.29.12 @ 10:12AM

Next Wednesday should see Santorum and the invisible Gingrich disappear. If they go on after that you can be sure they are being paid to do so by somone.

Vern Crisler| 2.29.12 @ 11:24AM

And America will disappear soon after.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.29.12 @ 11:32AM

So your preference is for one of two retreaded political hacks from inside Washington to change things? I'm sure THAT will work. NOT!

Tommy Frisco| 2.29.12 @ 12:14PM

BHO,
Vern's prefers that one of the two Republicans left in the race wins the GOP primary...Newt or Santorum.

RCV| 2.29.12 @ 11:36AM

The Republic will be just fine, Vern, long after you're gone.

Vern Crisler| 2.29.12 @ 2:11PM

But will it be the same Republic?

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:02PM

RCV: I'm not so sure---will Obama keep the mad mullahs from getting a bomb? Nothing I've seen indicates that.

Mimi| 2.29.12 @ 10:12PM

If either one drops out Mitt willreally hit the PANIC BUTTON! Bill....You know the party is more Conservative than RINO !
I'm with the " AIN'T OVER TIL ITS OVER" crowd!

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 10:58AM

Chin up, Vern. Yes, the MSM and the GOP establishment can get you discouraged but keep fighting.

The truth is Romney had to spend a lot of money to eke out a win in a state where he should have coasted to victory.

Vern Crisler| 2.29.12 @ 11:24AM

It's too bad our elections are decided on the basis of money. That's why I referred to Florida Republicans as whores: they went for the guy spending the most money.

If we have to give up our conservatism to defeat Obama, then there is little point to being a Republican.

RCV| 2.29.12 @ 11:38AM

Elections are decided on the basis of votes, Vern. It's amazing to me how respectful you guys are of "the people" when the votes go your way, and dismissive when they don't. And if you don't like the influence of big money on elections, you can thank the GOP majority on the Supreme Court.

DRed| 2.29.12 @ 12:24PM

The two groups in America who are most active in decrying the influence of money on elections are the tea party and the occupy wall street people. You'd think they'd be able to find some common ground.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 1:17PM

They do share something in common. Both breath air. It's just that the air the OWS animals breath is corrupted by the stench of fecal matter, urine and despair.

GFR| 2.29.12 @ 1:30PM

This isn't the election foolish person - it's the primary. The purpose is to find the best candidate to represent the Republican party, not the one who can carpet-bomb his opponent into the ground using millions of dollars.

If the only thing that's important is the money why don't we just give obama the win now? He's got more money than God.

Rick Santorum has done so much with so little and Romney has done so little with so much. Imagine what Santorum could do if he was properly funded. Imagine how poorly Romney will do if he doesn't get any money - and he won't, I will be voting for Obama if Willard is our candidate.

Laodalisque| 3.3.12 @ 4:23AM

The author of this piece said it absolutely the best: "When will the GOP ever learn? Centrists never win the center. They lose it and demoralize the right.". I nearly burst into tears when I read this statement because it's SO TRUE! I'm a lifelong Republican from the base, and I'm so demoralised right now that I've resigned myself to taking a scorched earth policy about Romney, "The Mattel-churian Candidate": if he's the nominee because he's the darling of the establishment tools in the Beltway, I'm going to vote for Obummer. I want either to fix the system or to bring it down around the Republican Party's stupid, centrist-whoremongering heads.

A MattelMitt plastic man presidency will be a torture of The Thousand Cuts: at best, he'll only nibble around the edges of the bloat, lip-servicing lame-o excuses why he can't do thisnthat, and at worst, he'll spend most of his time ingratiating himself with the Dems so that "they'll like him" for not being one of those mean ol' conservatives. And, lest we start believing his spiel that the system is too big to be fixed quickly or that he has an intransigent Congress he has to convince, etc, the real reason he won't dare stanch the spending hemorrhage is because he owes too much to the Wall Street bankrollers of his campaign (they have too much to lose by an efficient government).

AND THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT THE GOP NEVER IMAGINES FROM ITS BASE: an abiding rage that transcends any longstanding party loyalty. But as far as I'm concerned, the GOP has jettisoned me in favor of enticing the feckless and the clueless that comprise the 'Center'. It'll be the last election the treacherous, cowardly, and ungrateful GOP establishment wins at the expense of its base.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.29.12 @ 2:48PM

That's ridiculous. When has the Republican Party ever been conservative? You're really humorous today.

Jon| 2.29.12 @ 5:28PM

Vern,

The Republican party is so divided it should split. Let the Tea Paty become a legitimate 3rd Party and let the Establishment Republicans have their party, win, win.

The Underground Conservative| 3.1.12 @ 1:06PM

The Republican Party has become JFK Democrats while the Democrat Party has become full-blown Marxists and European-style socialists. There's no party for someone like me, a constitutional conservative.

vic111942| 2.29.12 @ 3:25PM

Look at Rick Santorum tax returns, his income actually quadrupled since he became a senator. It is all about ego, power and control for him, not about cuontry.

TrueBlue| 3.1.12 @ 5:21PM

It quadrupled because money he receives as campaign donations has to be shown on his tax returns. Look at how much of that money has been spent on his campaign and you'll see he actually made very little.

SCPOret| 2.29.12 @ 5:43PM

Don't get panties in a wad - Mittens has 120 something delegates, Santorum has 84 delegates but there are 2006 delegates yet to be won.

Chris| 2.29.12 @ 10:05AM

"So, when Romney loses he's a loser, but when he wins he's still a loser."
Bill, you nailed it right there! Great comment.

vtwin| 2.29.12 @ 10:48AM

"So, when Romney loses he's a loser, but when he wins he's still a loser."

It depends on the evangelical right. Romney would do better with independent voters than say a Santorum but will the evangelical right come out and vote for a Mormon?

The Underground Conservative| 3.1.12 @ 1:07PM

"Romney would do better with independent voters ..."

Not necessarily. They said the same thing about Reagan and why it was suicide for the GOP to nominate him and we all saw how that turned out for the GOP Establishment.

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 11:04AM

The real spoiler is Ron Paul. The Democrats voted for him to abort Santorum's victory. And he succeeded. I was originally rooting for Gingrich, but it appetars he has also lost his wisdom. He thinks he can still get the nomination by winning Georgia. His attack on Santorum was uncalled for. Well, Romney will get the nomination because Mammon won. And Obama will be reelected. Muslims from the Middle East will come take over to cleanse humanity like a tsunami. Even if an angel will be sent to save the situation nobody will listen as in Sodom and Gomorrah. Even if Lazarus would rise from the dead it is futile. Santorum may be the last man standing for the faith. The greatest losers are the women. Gay marriage will deprivee them of their men and pro-choice will rob them of their babies. The end of Christian civilization is nigh because only very few choose to remain staeadfast to their faith. The American spring has just begun. The Republican Party has betrayed itself.

Patricia Teel| 2.29.12 @ 11:50PM

Please try to remember this is NOT a religious crusade. This is a vote to SAVE our country from sliding into socialism. Get off the religious high horse and quit scaring away the voters that want the church to stay out of politics and their bedrooms.

Simon Templar| 2.29.12 @ 11:41AM

The author of the article is just pointing out the fact that Romney did indeed win but by a very small margin in a state that he should have won by a greater margin given its a home state and a state he outspent his rivals 5 to 1.

Claiming that this victory was a decisive statement that Romney is now set to win everything from here forward is a bit of a stretch.
Claiming that Gingrich and Santorum are not conservatives in comparison with Romney is a bit dishonest and strange. Now, if you were claiming that they were not as conservative as they say they are and all three were on a scale of conservativism with Romney being the lesser of the three...well that might be a logical argument.

Let's remember that when Romney was expected to win the great decider Iowa and later did not and Santorum did, there was no call for Romney to take a hike or claims that Santorum nomination was now inevitable.

Misleading. Yes, that is a good word to describe what is going on these days on all fronts.

Mimi| 2.29.12 @ 11:01PM

Simon to talk of Newt and Rick as not being Conservative is useless...we all have memories of them BOTH being down in the trenches, while Romney was out dancing with the Democrats! Rick was a faithful side-kick with Henry Hyde on anything Pro-life...and Newt, was constantly befor the MIC talking up the Conservative message....They were BOTH seen as highly respective Conservatives.
In less than a week , one or the other will back out and support the other that will take care of the RINO problem....I'm saying my prayers for them BOTH !!!!

TrueBlue| 3.1.12 @ 5:25PM

It'd be nice if one of them would do so BEFORE Super Tuesday. The day before would be perfect, it wouldn't give Romney any time to try to rally their voters. It just takes one of them withdrawing and throwing support behind the other when they do to turn this entire contest on its head.

corvair| 2.29.12 @ 1:31PM

The Santorum crowd wants to ignore the impact of the Dems crossing over.
CBS analysis - "Nearly 1-in-10 voters in the Michigan Republican primary identified with the Democratic Party. These Democratic voters overwhelmingly supported Santorum, casting 53 percent of their ballots for him while awarding only 17 percent to Romney. By comparison, Romney defeated Santorum among the 59 percent of Republicans casting ballots by a margin of 48 percent to 37 percent and independents by a margin of 35 percent to 34 percent. If the Democrats had not crossed over and voted in the Republican contest, Romney would have won the Michigan Republican primary by 8 percentage points, in the process changing the characterization of the result from a close race to a comfortable victory."

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:15PM

Corvair - thanks for your accuracy. And it wasn't only CBS but Fox and other networks that said the same thing regarding the Democrats who voted for Santorum after being called out by the Obama troops, unions in Michigan and Santorum's robocalls encouraging them to vote for him thereby trying to defeat Romney.

QuoVadisAnima| 2.29.12 @ 6:32PM

Actually, Romney really didn't "win" MI - he tied with Santorum - which is a loss for Romney & a win for Santorum.

Santorum has told the reason of his decision to run for POTUS - you just apparently haven't been interested. This short clip, IMO, is his best explanation (though he has been more explicit in the debates & numerous interviews) and the most touching moment in any of these campaigns - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-OWKEUTjNU

If you watch, you will see why Santorum's campaign completely makes sense - and why we can all trust that his first effort as POTUS will be to repeal Obamacare.

Romney, who refuses to acknowledge the very major flaws of the very anti-conservative Romneycare, CANNOT be trusted to do so.

Magnum Firepower| 2.29.12 @ 8:15PM

Quo Vadis is a just a wee bit challenged in both math and in word comprehension. The benefit of a public education I presume.

A "tie" is when the two candidates get the same number of votes.

A "win" is when one candidate gets more than the others.

Romney had over 41% of the vote and Santorum something less than 38%.

In mathematics, using regular number lines, 41% is GREATER THAN 38%.

Romney WON, he did not tie.

Back to school now...

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:29PM

Magnum - They did evenly split the delegates in Michigan, but so what. Romney WON the VOTERS by 70,000+ votes. That's significant. And by the way, Michigan hasn't been his home state for at least 40 years, he's 64 which means that he left when he was 24.

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:25PM

Santorum is a total bigot who doesn't deserve to be president. You want proof? A few weeks ago, he wanted to know and whined to the media about Romney's Mormonism not being under scrutiny by them. Listen to the audio of that speech he made at Ave Maria University in Naples, FL in 2008 where he savages Protestants as having no right to call themselves Christians. This is available to anybody and it is fact. I heard it, and it's definitely Santorum saying those despicable things. But hey, if bigots don't bother you - then go for Santorum. He denies quotations from his own book. His ultra-religious, extremist beliefs are anathema to a country such as the U. S., and most of the people wouldn't stand for him as POTUS.

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 6:17AM

Follow The Romney Money Trail.

Goldman Sachs $521,180
JPMorgan Chase & Co $356,400
Morgan Stanley $297,550
Credit Suisse Group $296,160
Citigroup Inc $280,050
Bank of America $245,900
Kirkland & Ellis $225,202
Barclays $217,150
HIG Capital $188,500
PricewaterhouseCoopers $185,550
Blackstone Group $178,050
Bain Capital $151,500
Wells Fargo $148,950
UBS AG $140,650
EMC Corp $128,300
Citadel Investment Group $123,625
Elliott Management $123,500
Bain & Co $112,800
Sullivan & Cromwell $106,650
The Villages $97,500

Media Matters| 2.29.12 @ 7:45AM

Clint,

Don't forget to hammer home the "JEW banker"meme! You can't say it enough!

Love,
David

Mike Hawk| 2.29.12 @ 8:33AM

TPINO-LWJ Clint can't stand Republicans of any stripe. Especially since he isn't one.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 9:50AM

When he's old enough to vote, Clint will register as a liber-tard.

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:11PM

Dr.Reich's The RINO-CINO,Who Said He'll Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 1:41PM

No kidding, little-boy.

I've only posted it about 1,000 times.

Any actual insights? Or will you be robo-posting all day from Ron "Surrender-Monkey" Paul's headquarters??

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:09PM

That's A Lie.

You're A Serial Liar, Hawk.

I'll Match My Registered Republican Conservative Votes Against Yours Any day, Coward.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 1:31PM

Clint, I was wondering how your imagined manly man Ron Paul feels about being Romney's cabin boy. Did they invite you to one of their special tea parties yet?

What a clown. Like a bunch of third graders. I wonder what Romney offered Paul to have him be his errand boy? Now now, Ron you know your my favorite, bestest friend! We just have to keep that secret! If the CIA finds out we are trying to be co-presidents they will unleash the evil Jew bankers. OK now lets do the secret pinkey finger handshake and you go attack that big meeny Santorum.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 1:42PM

LOL!

Isn't it hilarious?

Ron Paul, the self-proclaimed "Mr. Constitution", cutting a backroom deal with Mitt "Darth Vader" Romney!!!!

BWAH-HAH-HAH!!!!!

Paul-Bots around the country are wandering the streets in a fugue state!!!

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 1:49PM

"If the CIA finds out we are trying to be co-presidents they will unleash the evil Jew bankers."

Who says we haven't been unleashed already? I just emptied the last 2 bucks outta Clint's bank account!

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:04PM

You're not Conservative, Clint. Real Americans don't support Bradley Manning. Testosterone challenged jihadi cheek spreaders do.

spike59| 2.29.12 @ 6:34AM

as the campaign rolls on, santorum seems to manage a feat that i had though only DrRonPaul could achieve...just keep sounding crazier and crazier with each interview, each speech

Timothy L. Pennell| 2.29.12 @ 7:12AM

When asked why he thought that he hadn't really connected more with voters, Romney said this: "A lot of my opponents run around and make outrages charges against President Obama, and they see their numbers go up. I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT. That's not who I am. That's not how I'm wired."

He's not gonna go after Obama.

He's gonna be Nice, like John McCain was.

Here we go, again.

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:16AM

No, he's said he's not going to be outrageous. And frankly, I don't want outrageous. Or personal attacks on Obama. I want someone to point out how Obama has failed. Romney does that every single day. And apparently, it's working.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:01AM

Don't you get it, JaneB? To point out Obama's failures IS outrageous and racist as well. Do you really think Romney has the courage to tackle Obama? McCain didn't and he was a POW.

jha| 2.29.12 @ 12:15PM

loulou:

Let me show what I think Jane B means.

Obama's stimulus failed. Unemployment is still too high. (NOT OUTRAGEOUS/RACIST)

Why wont he show us his birth certificate? (OUTRAGEOUS OR RACIST)

Obama's policy on Iran's nuclear program is not working (NOT OUTRAGEOUS OR RACIST).

Obama is not a christian (OUTRAGEOUS OR RACIST)

Government spending is too high (NOT OUTRAGEOUS OR RACIST)

OBAMA is a socialist (OUTRAGEOUS OR RACIST).

Hope that helps.

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:37PM

Wow, loulou - how dare you accuse anybody of being outrageous and racist because they dare question Obama's failures. Unfortunately, you must be one of those who blindly soak up every word Obama has ever said. Who do you think Obama is - Superman - that Romney doesn't have the "courage" to tackle him? Wrong.

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:38PM

Exactly, Jane.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 9:53AM

You must not be paying attention to Romney's M.O.

Romney said HE will not "...run around and make outrages charges against President." He didn't say anything about his stooges and subordinates, who've systematically trashed every GOP-opponent with all kinds of venom.

Romney uses his squeaky-clean image to great affect. He's actually a dirty, nasty campaigner.

And as he's a LOT smarter than McCain (who is semi-retarded), don't expect him to ignore Obama's many faults.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:02AM

I think McCain's semi-retardation is due to dementia. But that was no excuse for preemptively surrenduring to Obama.

Jon| 2.29.12 @ 5:30PM

He surrendered to Obama when he announced Palin as his running mate.

kalena| 2.29.12 @ 9:13PM

Even Romney advisors now admit McCain would have lost by a larger margin without Sarah Palin. She dragged his pathetic behind over the finish line.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 3:05PM

Dr- I hope your- right, I honestly do, but I have severe doubts.

Your characterization of Romney as using others to do his dirty work is part of my problem with him. How ironic that by trying to maintain his "squeaky-clean image" Romney has created an image in my mind of a petty, vindictive coward.

Additionally, although I have heard numerous "conservatives" speak up on Romney's behalf, it is usually only to defend one of his prior policies like Obomney care or to justify his flip flopping on some core issue.

I have said in the past that I will not vote for Romney and sadly nothing has changed my mind about that. Certainly nothing Romney himself has said has encouraged me on any level.

You know in your heart that no lie is too big and outrageous to be told by the liberals. No slander, no vicious, hateful or mean thing is beneath them. When they start in on Romney, who refuses to defend himself, what am I supposed to feel? Pity?

Does Romney think the American people will see through the attacks and rally to his side because he is pure of heart? Since half the American people comprise a class of fleas and locusts who feed at the public trough, how many of them want to?

By example, let me remind you that you have not changed Clint's mind on one issue (though I do find your attempts humorous). Facts do not matter to the willfully ignorant and you give Clint facts to refute his stupidity. What does Romney offer in his defense?

I want to believe. I want to support him, how can I? Romney care, Obama care. Global warming is man made...er well maybe. Romney has taken positions for and against every issue of substance. The man apparently has no core values and has all the back bone of wet bread. I truly wonder what does he believe?

Romney stands for nothing and certainly not me. I cannot support him and I fear that the nebbish, cowardly, machinations of the Republican party establishment and their foisting this empty suit on us has resulted in America being brought to the tipping point.

I am not suggesting others refuse to vote for him in protest as I have decided. Maybe a Romney presidency would be better than Obama, but I personally don't see it. At least Obama's policies will begin to implode and at some point people will have to own up to the catastrophe. Romney will effect no change on the course of our ship of state except to give the liberals someone to blame when the ship is underwater.

My personal strategy is to vote for and fund to the extent I am able to, the most hyper conservative candidates I am able to identify and encourage them to pursue legal action against the outlaws in the Obama regime.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.1.12 @ 1:54PM

"Nebbish?" I haven't heard that one since my Mad Magazine days!

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 11:23AM

Romney said: "I am who I am."
Nobody questioned it.
Nobody was indignant that by saying that he was actually usurping God's definition of Himself to Moses. They want Romney to be nominee because if Santorum is nominee they shall have lost their election livelihood. Ron Paul serves as Romney's firewall. True, only Romney can match Obma's war chest. That's why they want Santorum to disappear so they can double their extortion racket from both sides.
No wonder Romney and Paul always hint that they have the cash, which Santorum does not have.

AaronM| 2.29.12 @ 12:50PM

Anatole,

There was not even a hint of reliocity in that commment. He was asked why people didn't "connect" with him. He simply responded, I am who I am, meaning, I'm not a "hell, fire, and damnation" type minister or speaker. I'm not bombastic (like Gingrich) or a religious crusader (like Santorum). What you see is what you get.

Frankly, I want a leader who is calm, cautious, and analytical.

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 4:40PM

Okay, dude.
You'll get what you want.
Your bully god will sail you this his New Jerusalem.
Prepare your magic Mormon underwears, dude.
Remember the Titanic?
Besides, who knows he really won?
I want to wait couple of weeks more.
Remember Iowa?
Oh, forget it dude.
Sail on.

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 4:40PM

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 11:23AM

SUBVET| 2.29.12 @ 9:14PM

Yes I know I have posted it before but.........GEORGE SOROS-----"We think either obama or romney's fine but Gingrich, he would change things".

Dam right he will........

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:16PM

More Israel Firster RINO-CINO Smear Bund Crap From Bibi Spic 69

Milton Friedman,Nobel Prize Economist,
"I strongly support Ron Paul. We very badly need to have more Representatives who understand in a principled way the importance of property rights and religious freedom."

Anatole Pushkin| 2.29.12 @ 4:49PM

Congratulations!
You justi discovered the black powder.
All I know is Romney's his Ventriloquist.
What a pair!!!

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:08PM

Milton Friedman on Israel:

"The Friedmans’ last visit was in 1990 to participate in a conference on economic policy organized by my institute, The Israel Center for Social and Economic Progress. Held at the beginning of the large wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union, it focused on fashioning better absorption policies and the provision of housing and jobs. Milton lectured several times and participated in all the workshops that dealt with a variety of issues, demonstrating his brilliance, creativity and good common sense.

By then the Friedmans had already developed a deep fondness for Israel which they described on earlier visits as not only beautiful but “an incredibly diversified country, surrounded on all sides by enemies.”'

Why don't you call Uncle Miltie an Israel Firster, Clit?

betwyan| 2.29.12 @ 6:38AM

The truth is the "right of center" electorate isn't happey with Romney or Santorum, they both have serious flaws.

Romney is not really a conserative, period. Plus, he just doesn't connect with anyone. He's a plastic "Ken" doll who doesn't believe in anything.

Santorum is a bit more sincere and actually have some strong beliefs (and I agree with most of those beliefs) but in today's age, it seems apparent one can not be a real Christian, can not want to discuss the disintegration of the family (as perhaps the major reason for social problems). He makes RINOs, Neocons, Establishment GOP types "nervous".

That said, I'll vote for either or anyone else who become to GOP candidate against Barry Soetoro.

PCC| 2.29.12 @ 8:53AM

Well, Mr. Betwyan, your comments are fine as far as they go, but until "real conservatives" can serve up a candidate who can actually win something, in a GOP primary, much less a general election, then I suggest you get ready to put all of your considerable energy behind a candidate who is far preferable to the current occupant of the White House.

Namely, Mr. Romney.

Tom Osterman| 2.29.12 @ 9:19AM

For starters, Obamacare has to be repealed, not replaced with Romneycare. On this and a host of other issues, Romney hasn't shown himself to be a good choice, only less bad than Obama. And that's not good enough.

Look past the election and ponder the next four years if Romney somehow gets elected. Then tell me to hold my nose and vote for Mitt.

BigHurt| 2.29.12 @ 9:57AM

We need a "candidate who can actually win something"? What has Mitt Romney proven he can win? He has barely won a majority of the primaries/caucuses so far, based on dramatically outspending his opponents (money used to buy endorsements and campaign teams as well as on ads) and assassinating their characters. Romney has a losing record in elections over his career (well below .500). For some reason, however, he believes he is destined to be President, and is willing to commit his fortune and those of many others, to the cause. His campaign has worked hard, and spent multi-millions, to put out the message that he is the only one who can beat Obama. And that aura has significantly deteriorated (polls have shown both Ron Paul and Santorum up on Obama). In fact, for a 6-year campaign effort, Romney is not in a strong position at all. You think your candidate is strong, namely, Mr. Romney. You are deluded. He is weak and will be exposed by Obama, someone who'll exceed Romney's moneybags and is as devious as they come. Romney may get some conservative Republicans who are willing to hold their noses and vote for him, like myself, but we won't be putting "all of [our] considerable energy" behind supporting someone who's really not that different than Obama and is not man enough to actually take the fight to Obama. It will be 2008 all over again.

But, I'll tell you what, PCC. How about we just let Romney have the nomination, then when he gets waxed by Obama, he can leave our Grand Ole Party in ruin like he did with the Massachusetts Republican Party. Promise me then that he'll go home to his enclave in San Diego (or, wait is Boston his home? Or is it Michigan?), and we can move on from this experiment and get back to the core conservative principles for which the Republican Party stands.

LMA| 2.29.12 @ 10:54AM

You ask, "What has Mitt Romney proven he can win?" Answer: he has proven he can win more votes than any other Republican candidate.

Does that answer your question?

BigHurt| 2.29.12 @ 11:57AM

No, it doesn't. Romney has the most votes after a whopping 11 states. Big deal. He still has less than 15% of the delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. And he's no better positioned today with conservatives than he was yesterday. Accept it.

The reality is that the longer this thing goes on, the more Romney's vulnerabilities (personal, philosophical, strategic) are further exposed. That's why they want to convince everyone to cave and move it on to the general election. Trying to protect a weak candidate.

Kodiak| 2.29.12 @ 12:34PM

earth to big If he does the same with the last 39 as he has done with the 1st 11 he will easily cruise to victory. Romney is poised to continue to take the winner take all states and get as many delegates as your boy in the rest. Try to at least be a little realistic for a change

BigHurt| 2.29.12 @ 1:45PM

Great, I'd like to see if Romney can make it through another 39 states. That's what the process is for. Regardless, it doesn't change my view that his nomination is in no way a positive reflection of the Republican Party. This party has become timid, no longer the party of Reagan.

Kodiak| 2.29.12 @ 12:31PM

earth to big he has won more than the other 3 delegate counts combined

PTR| 2.29.12 @ 3:04PM

he believes he is destined to be President

White Horse Prophecy?

LMA| 2.29.12 @ 10:51AM

It's silly to say that Romney isn't a conservative. Four years ago, Santorum endorsed Romney. You can say if you want that there are candidates who are MORE conservative - although honestly they all have issues with departure from conservative orthodoxy - but to deny that Romney is any kind of a conservative is just name calling.

Indy| 2.29.12 @ 12:07PM

4 years ago, we didn't have ObamaCare. Now we know RomneyCare led to ObamaCare. In 2008, I would have supported Romney over McCain, as would have many others but it was McCain's turn, Romney was asked to step aside, take one for the team and he would get the next turn...here we are, it's now Mitt's turn....that's the Cocktail Party's way.

Many of us who post here have illustrated many times why Romney is not a conservative, I'm not going to repeat them. If he is the nominee, I will vote for him but I'll be doing it with my eyes open, I'll be voting for another GOP moderate.

BigHurt| 2.29.12 @ 12:15PM

Ok, Romney can argue that he can be a fiscal conservative. His record supports pro and con on that.

As for the endorsement bit, we all know that the 2008 endorsements were political - used to try and hold off the McCain "Straight Talk Train Wreck." Anybody with political sense, which unfortunately in this nation is fewer and fewer, knows that Romney was just an alternative vehicle to McCain (and at a time when Romney was working the conservatives like nobody's business; yet today, he denies them and calls them ignoramuses who fall for incendiary language).

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 6:40AM

More RINO-CINO Mitten's Kittens Ruling Elites' Flunkie Stooge Shuck & Jive Trash Talk.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

weaverofdreams_2000| 2.29.12 @ 9:53AM

Tim*my is such a dimbulb.

Did he not notice that Ron Paul's strongest demographic in Michigan (although that is not saying much) was amongst "Voters Who OPPOSE the Tea Party"!

Astonishing!

Cheers!

Apparently, weaverofseams seamstress in distress, died at the switch.

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:09PM

No, he just thought it was funny to note what a moron you are. Moron you are. Moron you are. Moron you are. Moron you are.

You see, Clint, you not only blow jihadists for pay to fund your lifestyle; you are also a moron.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 9:54AM

Really..?

So where is this "rebellion" you always refer to?

The Party is going to nominate either Santorum or Romney.

There's NO groundswell of support for the Surrender-Monkey.

Deal with it.

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:33PM

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

LMA| 2.29.12 @ 10:51AM

Yeah, you're a thoughtful guy, we can tell.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:04AM

You never answered my question: How do you like RuPaul being Romney's butt boy?

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:20PM

How Do You Like Havin' Your Head Up Bibi's Butt, betty betty lou, lou,betty ,betty,pig , oink.

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:10PM

Better to have the head up Bibi's but than Mahmoud's dick in your ass.

rssg| 2.29.12 @ 6:48AM

I think a major problem with Romney is that he is (correctly) perceived as simply a competent manager, when conservatives are looking for someone to actually push to downsize the federal govt. by a good 10-15 percent.

Romney seems to content with the status quo to undertake serious cutting of government.

Cato the Younger| 2.29.12 @ 7:00AM

Downsize by 10-15%? You, sir, barely qualify as right-of-center. A conservative wants a budget surplus so we can pay off the national debt. 10-15% means we're still increasing the debt. We need more like 40-50% cuts.

rssg| 2.29.12 @ 7:46AM

Spare me your juinior high school reasoning son. As much as I'd like to see a major reduction in the size of the federal govternment, we will be lucky to see a 5% decrease. 15% would be a God-send but it will never happen.

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:19AM

You have not read his plan, nor listened to his speeches? He is dead serious about cutting government. Not only that, he has the history to prove he'll do it.

Appleby| 2.29.12 @ 6:52AM

Romney is boring. He is Ozzie Nelson and the Dad in "Father Knows Best" and I expect him to call me "kitten" and pat me on the head.

Pax78| 2.29.12 @ 10:44AM

Unfortunately, Romney is way beyond boring. He is cringe-inducing awful as a candidate. The inane sound bites that come out of every public appearance are astounding. The Romney campaign management thus far makes the 2008 McCain campaign look like a well-oiled machine in comparison.
The only bright spot for me, as a Connecticut resident, is that I swear that whenever I hear one of those awful Romney sound bites played on talk radio or cable news, if I stand near a south-facing window and tilt my head, I swear I can hear Ann Coulter screaming as she watches her reputation and career go down the drain...and I laugh.

AaronM| 2.29.12 @ 12:51PM

Look beyond sound bites.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:05AM

Romney is a Dukakis. He claims to be a competent manager just like Dukakis did.

Need I say more?

ThumpasuarusRex| 2.29.12 @ 11:35AM

I'm waiting for pics of Romney with his head poking out of the top of a M1 Abrams, complete with big toothy grin and cartoonish level of "fear me". Even the Greeks in this country didn't vote for Dukakis.

rightasrain| 2.29.12 @ 7:13AM

When Michael Moore is urging MI Democrats to vote for Santorum you know they have no intention of voting for him in November. They want Santorum to be the nominee so Obama can crush him. This is a fiscally conservative, socially moderate country and Santorum is woefully out of step. And even to those who agree with him, Santorum is such an unpleasant scold that he turns people off. I will vote for whoever is the nominee but I pray it's not Santorum.

W| 2.29.12 @ 7:47AM

Michigan is not important because the Repub nominee will not win it in November with Detroit voting 99% for Obama.

Santorum did well because of the Dems voting for him, and his proposal to eliminate the income tax for manufacturers, which will never pass and if it did pass would be ruled unconstitutional. Romney beat Santorum in the Catholic vote and tied in the tea party vote.
Romney did better in 2008 because McCain was his opponent.
Arizona is important because it is has a strong conservative base, and the Repub can and must win it in Nov.

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 9:03AM

Santorum is also STILL polling strong in OH, IN & PA (he's up by 33 points). And Super Tuesday will be the acid test. With many states in Dixie in play, Mitt's fake conservatism will be a HUGE turnoff.

I also don't expect Newt to have any sort of resurgence by then. If Santorum does well & Newt doesn't, I'll make the prediction that he'll throw his support to Santorum. And I don't want to hear about any of the "those people in Dixie won't vote for Santorum because he's a Catholic" or the "the reason Mitt lost was because those people in Dixie don't like Mormons." For the most part, that's a thing of the past. And I say this as someone who grew up in/lived in the South for 18 years.

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:21AM

Santorum is toast after last night, and last week. It's only a matter of time until his poll numbers catch up with reality.

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 11:28AM

A little early for a victory lap, don't you think? Take a look at his poll numbers in OH, PA & TN.

W| 2.29.12 @ 10:37AM

Ohio will be interesting because the Rep nominee must win it in November.

One key will be whether Governor Kasich endorses Rick or Santorum. Kasich served with Santorum in Congress and is from the Pgh area. But Kasich has run as an economic conservative like Romney, and has not based his political career as a social conservative like Santorum, although I believe Kasich is now an evangelical and was a Catholic.

Rick must and should win Pa since he has won four out of the five races here. But that 2008 loss by 18% will not help regardless of the reasons for the loss because of the perception of the loss. Romney will contest Pa if there is still a race to make Rick spend money and time and as payback for Michigan. The race is nasty. Rick and Romney do not like each other.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:06AM

What the h*ll are you talking about??
Romney is NOT an economic conservative.

ThumpasuarusRex| 2.29.12 @ 11:37AM

Mitt Romney would be like southern voter repellent in a can. His east coast moral relativism is toxic.

Kodiak| 2.29.12 @ 12:54PM

You don't know what you are talking about. You may not like Mormons, just say so, but to accuse a Mormon of moral relativism is laughable

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 1:11PM

He's NOT saying that. He's saying that Romey's fake conservatism won't play down there. And it won't. If the case you were making were true, then they (Southerners) wouldn't support Santorum either, because he's Catholic.

I don't know how you got an "anti Mormon" vibe from Thumper saying that his "east coast moral relativism" won't play in Dixie. Other than you must've been looking for something to be offended by.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 3:20PM

Good for you ConChief (NB)! Spot on as usual.

What is it with the mental midgets and this "you hate mormons thing?"

These people are like the photo negative of those on OBama's side who claim racism anytime someone disagrees with Obama policy.

As to your comment Kodiak. I hate Romney because he is a spineless coward. Tell me sir what does the "mormon" stand for? Are you sure he really believes in the tenets of the mormon religion?

How can you be certain? The gutless coward of a (oops I started to call him a man) has changed his mind on everything else. How can you trust anything he says?

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:12PM

Lot's of people in 'Bama like santorum. remember wher Quin lives.

somnolence| 2.29.12 @ 7:47AM

It makes my day to see old George here once again writhing in sour grapes extract. The objective is to beat Obama, not throw fusillades at Romney. As Rush continues to say daily, any of the four in the field CAN and WILL beat Obama in November. I prefer NASCAR novice fan over that great pheasant hunter Santorum; as Romney has been more CONSISTENTLY conservative over the last decade than either Santorum or Gingrich. Romney just gets better and better in each "debate", and has decisively won the last 3. Those sour grapes are turning putrid, folks.

Seek| 2.29.12 @ 2:48PM

Romney is doing it right. He knows, unlike, say, Santorum or Palin, that before "energizing" the base, a candidate first must expand it. Ideological purity and religious piety can wait; defeating Obama can't.

jlkthree| 2.29.12 @ 7:47AM

You got your John 3:16,you got your Psalms-but Mitt 3:16 says Mitt Romney just whipped Neumayr's backside.Again.
Goerge,try not adopting the MSNBC action line on Mitt.Its false.Like everything else MSNBC does.

teflon93| 2.29.12 @ 8:04AM

Sure, but what's the Book of Mormon say?

Marco2| 2.29.12 @ 8:12AM

The Book of Mormon says that the next not-Mitt should be the former Klansman, ex-mayor of Yazoo, MS. The Angel Moroni read it in the tru-cons' Book of Moron. You religious bigots are reallly a sad case.

Doctor Right| 2.29.12 @ 10:34AM

Lots of mumbo-jumbo...

Kind of like the Catechism, and Papal "Bulls", know what I'm say'n..?

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:25PM

Yeah, Dr.Reich,You're Sayin' That You're One Of American Spectator's Resident Lapsed Catholic-Anti-Catholic Asshats.

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

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 3:45PM

You are the resident TPINO Islamist Firster anti-Semetic bigot.

Casey Abell| 2.29.12 @ 7:50AM

Too bad that Democrats couldn't pull Neumayr's fave Saint Rick over the line. They tried, though, in an almost successful Operation Chaos. Dems gave Rick Sanctimony a 53-18 margin but it wasn't enough. Romney easily carried Republicans 48-37, and that was enough for the win.

With no Operation Chaos in Arizona, the Neumayr heartthrob got blown out by twenty points. Only Republicans voted there.

Voslucky| 2.29.12 @ 12:13PM

Would that be the same Arizone that has elected and re-elected that well known super conservative john mccain? Why yes, it is! No surprise they would vote for another RINO!

Chris| 2.29.12 @ 7:50AM

Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich "remains the convictionless centrist who simply can't inspire the right..."

There is no difference between these three! They all have their fingerprints on big government health programs. All have campaigned as conservatives and all have governed as Rinos.

Nancy in NC| 2.29.12 @ 8:03AM

The problem as I see it as the the GOP always run scared. Many competent candidates (that could beat Obama) failed to run, either because they felt they weren't ready, they were afraid they couldn't beat Obama or they had a dirty little secret in the closet that the MSM would surely find. My dog should be able to beat Obama. His record is terrible...there is so much ammunition that it's difficult to know where to start. Gas is almost $4 a gallon or more everywhere. Food prices are growing faster than winter wheat. The rest of the world is smirking at us (and him). The guy has told so many lies and half truths he's lost count. He's clearly in over his head, and must depend on race baiting, envy and lies to fool the American people again.

I'm beginning to believe it's all a foregone conclusion and we're just going through the motions. No matter who wins nothing will change. And we need drastic change.

At least one third of this country seems to prefer socialism (or Communism) to freedom. They know little about history or consequences and live in a world of American Idol and the sports brand of the week. They cannot fathom the possibility of losing life as they know it. They would be hard pushed to find Greece on a map and can barely spell Europe.

The progressives have been playing this game for about a 100 years and they're winning.America has reached the place of complacency that success brings, and they are willing to sell their soul for security and comfort. Our competive edge is gone and we are acting second rate. Few are willing to sacrifice or work hard to do the right thing...they prefer the softer, gentler way...Obama speaks their language of class envy and greed.

Santorum really is on to the basic problem. Too many Americans are immoral and lazy. The basic goodness that Alexis D'Toqueville found here over 200 years ago has disappeared and has been replaced with those who prefer lowlifes like John Maynard Keynes to the decency of John Locke.

We are reaping what we have sown.

jppc| 2.29.12 @ 8:26AM

"I'm beginning to believe it's all a foregone conclusion and we're just going through the motions. No matter who wins nothing will change." - My thoughts exactly.

"At least one third of this country seems to prefer socialism (or Communism) to freedom. They know little about history or consequences and live in a world of American Idol and the sports brand of the week." - Well put and very true.

"Santorum really is on to the basic problem. Too many Americans are immoral and lazy." True but Santorum isn't the best one to give this message, I don't hate him but he's a bit "off-putting" to too many, unfortunately.

Bottom line: I think it's too late for our country and we will continue the slow downfall into world government, unable to govern ourselves and frankly, unwilling to.

PCC| 2.29.12 @ 8:58AM

Yeah, fine, go ahead, vote for Obama. Is that your solution? Or would you prefer to simply stay home and polish your conscience?

crookedwren| 2.29.12 @ 9:08AM

Nancy in NC, you are so right. Spot on.

I've been wondering why the GOP cannot seem to find a true conservative candidate who cannot be ridiculed into oblivion. Ridicule and demonization -- the tools of Alinsky, the tools of Marxists, weapons of terrible destruction.

Nancy in NC, you have said it so well.

Now we have to sow other seeds. We need to restore John Locke and D'Toqueville and actual historical fact to our textbooks and curricula. We need to demand better from our media. We are losing our Constitutional Republic, with the assistance of (deluded, well-meaning) teachers, profs, and journalists -- most of them indoctrinated, useful idiots.

The Truth is a powerful weapon. We've THAT on our side. Cause the truth is -- what is being formed not only here but throughout the "global community" WON'T work well. It will be a horror. We know it. History shows us the road we're headed down.

The battle for individual life, liberty, and property -- that pursuit of happiness -- is a worthy one. We know it. History has proven that it brings, for the most part, the best government, the greatest prosperity. Not perfect, but the best humanity has ever experienced.

We must sow new seeds and carefully tend our garden -- and we must not let the weeds take over.

Tommy Frisco| 2.29.12 @ 12:54PM

"I've been wondering why the GOP cannot seem to find a true conservative candidate who cannot be ridiculed into oblivion."

When a conservative does rear his head, our GOP leaders slap him back down. It's difficult for us to make any progress towards restoring our nation when the Democrat Party leaders choose their most liberal members to represent their Party, yet our GOP leaders choose and support their most moderate members to represent the GOP.

Zal| 3.1.12 @ 3:30PM

Bingo! They never had and never will nominate a conservative. They prefer to keep their country club, good old boy group intact. Jeb Bush is already being groomed as the next in line. They usually nominate a conservative VP to try to prop up weak moderates like Romney and McCain. That works out well (sarc).

teflon93| 2.29.12 @ 8:03AM

I don't think RINOs actually aim to win the presidential election. Their aim is merely to prevent a conservative from winning it, as that would loosen their grip on the GOP and the Treasury pursestrings it occasionally controls. This and the esteem of the liberal nomenklatura is all RINOs care about.

rightasrain| 2.29.12 @ 9:27AM

If by RINOs you mean non-Santorum supporters, you've got it wrong. We desperately want to beat Obama and that's been our only focus from the beginning and that's also why we support Romney.

Tom Cretella| 2.29.12 @ 8:10AM

We get it George. You don't like Romney but why all the vitrol in your articles? Your acerbic words are chilling for a columnist on this site.

jlkthree| 2.29.12 @ 8:19AM

Little baby Georgie needs his bottle.

artinocala| 2.29.12 @ 8:24AM

Well written. My wife says we need a bloodless revolution in which the people rise up and give a second stanza to the 2010 election hymn. The republican party has so screwed up this primary season and allowed a rich man to dispense with the good candidates (Cain, Pawlenty, Perry) and crawl toward the finish line. We're doomed if he is allowed to continue. As Jim DeMint wrote "Now or Never!" The team we'd love to see (and you'll say they don't want it) and one that would rally the unhappy is RYAN AND RUBIO. Think about it. How can we get that word out?

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 11:09AM

I repeat: Rubio is a NATIVE BORN US citizen and is ineligible to be POTUS. He is not a NATURAL BORN US citizen.

VBMax| 2.29.12 @ 3:23PM

Loulou,
I'm looking forward to Sheriff Joe's report tomorrow on the eligibility issue. And that should clarify it for Rubio as well.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.1.12 @ 2:41PM

Gee, that didn't stop O'bama now, did it?

kzin| 2.29.12 @ 8:28AM

Ryan I like; Rubio - too young, too inexperienced and I don't like to play ethnic pandering because he's a Laaaaatino.

jlkthree| 2.29.12 @ 8:49AM

Gov. Susana Martinez can bring along New Mexico.

Derek Leaberry| 2.29.12 @ 9:01AM

Plenty of time to burn down progressive, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-liberal judges, pro-socialized medicine Romney.

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 9:06AM

BINGO. I love all the Mittbots who're breaking their arms patting themselves on the back.

Guess what, y'all? The game ain't over yet.

teflon93| 2.29.12 @ 9:10AM

Given how much money Mittens has pissed away sliming conservatives he may not have the cash to make it.

Karl Rove costs big bucks, you know...

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:25AM

Technically, but the fat lady is warming up in the back. Go ahead and try to find another candidate, if it makes you feel good. But Romney's getting pretty good at this whack-a-mole game.

Con Chef (NB)| 2.29.12 @ 11:29AM

Yeah. He's so good at "whack a mole" that he barely won his 3rd home state.

Scott Ryan| 2.29.12 @ 9:03AM

The GOP is Serving Mammon (a false object of worship & Devotion)

http://www.TableOfWisdom.com

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 9:06AM

Romney's advantage:
1. Money
2. The Mormon Brigade
3. Private sector experience
4. New England and Midwestern heritage
5. "Flawless" debater
6. endorsements from lawmakers and governors
Romney's disadvantage:
1. ROMNEYCARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick| 2.29.12 @ 11:36AM

"That nigger lover President Clinton had the pen and vetoed so many good bills passed by the Gingrich-led Congress."
- Written by Bill, in the Time for Newt to Do the Honorable Thing thread:

http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_749403

You're a moron and a racist, Bill.
GO AWAY!

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 11:40AM

Nick is a convicted felon. He cannot vote either. AH!!!!!!!!!

Nick| 2.29.12 @ 11:57AM

You're a racist and a liar, Bill.
Now, GO AWAY!

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 12:46PM

NICK IS A CHILD MOLESTER!

Nick| 2.29.12 @ 12:55PM

Go away, Bill the racist pig!

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 1:53PM

Go away, Nick the racist pig!

Nick| 2.29.12 @ 3:09PM

Repudiate your racist remarks, Bill the Bigot.

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 5:00PM

Repudiate your racist remarks, Nick the Bigot.

Nick| 2.29.12 @ 5:51PM

I don't make racist remarks.
Unlike you, Bigot Bill.

SnowCypher| 2.29.12 @ 12:44PM

Romneycare? A problem for Romney? Not really.

There are four distinct differences between Romneycare and Obamacare. We can keep it really simple for you Santorum folks who do not like to think too deep (if you did, think deep that is, you would not be supporting Santorum):

1. Legislative Process
Romney had no choice but to work with an 85% veto-proof Dem majority, YET he forced a lot of free market ideas down their throats. Veto overrides take time and Romney gave them 800 vetos in four years. Even with an 85% majority, they did not override most, let alone all his vetos.

Obama played golf and went on expensive vacations while Nancy and Harry herded cats in Congress to barely pass the monster that is Obamacare. Santorum's buddy Arlen Spector was Obama's magic 60th vote until Kennedy died.

2. 10th Amendment and States rights.
Romneycare as a state program fits right inside states rights, while Obamacare tramples both the 10th Amendment and states rights. This is the primary reason for 26 states taking Obamacare to the Supreme Court. It's also the reason a majority of governors and state attorneys general in those 26 states endorse Romney for President. Insurance has always been a states rights issue.

3. Free Market versus Neo Socialism
Romney, using the power of his veto pen, forced Dems in Massachusetts to accept only private insurance and no public option in their massive healthcare overhaul. That's a 180 degree opposite to Obamacare, whose whole purpose is to cut the free market out of healthcare and transform it into government socialism.

4. Concept and Application of the Individual Mandate
In Romneycare, the logic and reasoning was sound. People who go to the ER so as to avoid paying for their own emergency healthcare services are an unfair burden. Under Romneycare, people had to either get major medical insurance or pay a fine to offset actual ER costs, IF and when they used an ER or other medical resoruces. There was no public option.

Under Obamacare, the so-called Individual Mandate is a ploy to force everyone toward the Public Option. The government sets the policy levels so high for minimal coverage that anything but the Public Option becomes an impossible expense.

Simple enough for you Santorum simpletons? I hope so. We fiscal conservatives get tired of having to explain these four simple differences to you again and again.

Patricia Teel| 3.1.12 @ 12:16AM

Obama will would beat Romney, why ?
1 Money, all on the left and many in the center think he has too much of it, the 1% Romney
2 Mormons are a small minority
3 Private sector job killer and business closer
4 New England and mid-western heritage, think upper class, won't fly with working middle class
5 Flip Floper, trust me there are several videos
on youtube
6 Who even listens to politicians and lawyers these days ?
And last but not least, you are correct, Romneycare will kill him.

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:13AM

Wow! Bitter much?!

Romney has twice the votes and four times the delegates. Apparently, someone likes him!

Voslucky| 2.29.12 @ 12:19PM

Amazing what money can buy ...

Les Panek| 2.29.12 @ 9:14AM

Best argument for convincing Independents to vote for Romney: Don't worry, he doesn't stand for anything. Not a damn thing. If you don't like his opinion, just wait a few minutes. He won't make you feel bad for supporting infanticide and chasing God out of the public square like those "crazies". Plus, he has money and is organized- just not as much as Obama! Did I mention that he ran a business? Just look at him. He's so...electable.

Awesome. No really, it's inspirational.

JaneB| 2.29.12 @ 9:26AM

Romney does inspire me, and apparently a majority of Republicans. Of course he's electable.

K garner| 2.29.12 @ 9:45AM

He inspires me also....

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:33PM

He inspires me too. Read his "No Apologies" book. It is inspiring.

ThumpasuarusRex| 2.29.12 @ 11:40AM

Romney inspires...projectile vomiting.

loulou| 2.29.12 @ 12:47PM

Too funny.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 7:50PM

He inspires me to stay home.

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 10:43AM

He's as inspiring as Caspar Milquetoast. .. or Timmy Geitner.

Cpm| 2.29.12 @ 9:20AM

"Shooting a RINO"? Really George? Just a little wishful thinking? Not just a little over the top? A RINO is a Republican that sits at home on election day and reelects Obama.

jlkthree| 2.29.12 @ 9:20AM

The CONSERVATIVE Heritage Foundation INVENTED Romney care.GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEADS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 10:41AM

Horsehockey

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:36PM

He's right actually. The "individual mandate" idea came from the Heritage Foundation think tank. It was a popular, conservative concept that promoted individual responsibility as an alternative to free government handout health care.

Butch| 2.29.12 @ 2:43PM

I believe they have since repudiated it. Romney, however, has not. Had he, he would have been in much better shape.

K garner| 2.29.12 @ 9:37AM

poor loser! I don't understand the argument that no one is excited about Mitt and yet he keeps winning and in some cases winning BIG! so stick it where the sun don't shine. (In the crazy world of the Repubs who think they is so important.)

Markus| 2.29.12 @ 9:54AM

George Neumayr should be banned from writing columns or at the very least boycotted by all republicans. He has the objectivity and analytical skills of a nitwit bigot that he is. I think his wife rants on him everyday, and his boss screws him over...can't think of another reason why someone would write such hogwash and BS.......

martin j smith| 2.29.12 @ 9:59AM

You get it Neumeyer but I can see some Romney supporters do not get it. Like Obama supporters and Ron Paul supporters they are delusional. The reason why Romney is not a shoe in is because he has weak support for exactly what you say. Who needs Obama lite when you can get the real thing ?

ThumpasuarusRex| 2.29.12 @ 11:43AM

Is this where you contend Ron Paul is a leftist? I'm genuinely curious.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:39PM

You obviously haven't paid much attention (except to regurgitate some talking points about Obama lite). Romney and Obama have very little in common.

martin j smith| 2.29.12 @ 9:59AM

Oh yes there is the real possibility that Romney supporters lie like the rest of his friends Obama and Paul.

9thID| 2.29.12 @ 10:01AM

When all is said and done, Mitt is the quintessential Dole/McCain Redux -- I would stake Clint Farquaad's life on it...

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:48PM

It Was You Israel Firster Smear Bund RINO-CINO's 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.

Aaaand, Israel Firster Smear Bund Buffoon, 9th IDiot,
" Ron Paul on Tuesday shot down the idea he’s in cahoots with Mitt Romney, saying Rick Santorum is a conspiracy theory “addict” who “dreamt that up.”

Paul told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer there is no truth to the idea that he is in a secret alliance with the Romney campaign. After Blitzer asked if the rumors were true that he was protecting Romney in order to see his son Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on the ticket, Paul laughed off the suggestion and said it “hasn’t crossed my mind.”

“Some people are much more into conspiracies than others. If Santorum is an addict on conspiracies, I guess he’s going to have to keep talking that way,” Paul said.

Paul slammed Santorum’s focus on the supposed strategic alliance, saying the former Pennsylvania senator “pulled that out of the air.”

“If that’s all he has to talk about, that means he doesn’t have much of a platform to talk about. I would think we’re supposed to be talking about the issue,” Paul said. “But to construct something like that, I mean, he just pulled that out of the air because there’s no truth to it. But if he wants to spend his energy doing that, I just — you can’t do anything about it. But he dreamt that up.”

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 3:43PM

What do you care Islamist Firster, you aren't a Republican.

Jabber3| 2.29.12 @ 10:06AM

Come on George let it all go. Get all the vitriol out there. You will feel better but you will not change a thing as far as Romney winning the nomination. The candidates that you have supported as true conservatives have not been able to close the deal or muster the resources to convince enough Republicans to vote for them and they eventually languish. Santorum now begins the march to the bottom in the polls as the latest unsuccessful challenger.
Romney will be the nominee. It inevitable. Please exhibit some class as you deal with it.

Voslucky| 2.29.12 @ 12:24PM

"Romney will be the nominee. It inevitable" ... if mittens is the "inevitable" one then obozo will coast to re-election in November ...

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:43PM

Romney already leads Obama in several recent polls. The only candidate that Obama has a significant lead over in the polls is Gingrich. I don't see Obama coasting to reelection against any of them, but Romney is the strongest candidate.

emilio lizardo, phD| 2.29.12 @ 10:10AM

Nice hatchet job, schmuck. Messrs. Carville, Begala and BHO himself couldnt have said it better.

Art Mooney| 2.29.12 @ 10:16AM

1. Delegates proportioned in Conservative states
2. Winner take all in liberal states and mormon states
3. Texas primary postponed indefinetely
4. Southern states marginalized
5. Spread out primary conducive to carpet bombing
6. Open primaries to help Romney in certain states like Michigan (which backfired)
7. Squirrely rules on pleged delegates, superdelegates, these delegates, those delegates, no delegates, her delegates, contested delegates.

THIS WHOLE G.D. PRIMARY HAS BEEN RIGGED FOR ROMNEY FROM THE START.

WE'RE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF DAMN FOOLS TO THINK OUR VOTES EVER MATTERED TO BEGIN WITH IN THE GOP!

Ward Bond| 2.29.12 @ 11:11AM

PRO wrestling. That's what this primary has seemed like from the start.

ThumpasuarusRex| 2.29.12 @ 11:46AM

The incompetence of the GOP does not a conspiracy make. I loathe the thought of Romney as a Obama foil but this talk of vast plots to ensure Mitt is the Republican nominee is paranoid delusion.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:44PM

Sounds like a liberal conspiracy theory.

Bill| 2.29.12 @ 10:34AM

Maybe..............
President: Mitt Romney
VP: Chris Christie
I'm loving it!

Worried for the country| 2.29.12 @ 10:36AM

Gee George we thought you loved Romney. We are shocked, shocked you wrote ANOTHER hit piece.

How about Romney got more votes in AZ and MI last night than in 2008?

Romney gave his best victory speech to date. Focus on Obama's failures and his solutions.
Tighten the message to create jobs, reduce debt and shrink government.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:46PM

Actually, his last few victory speeches (especially last night and Nevada) have been really good.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.29.12 @ 10:38AM

The GOP "sweetheart" Chris Christie is about to pass Agenda21 across New Jersey. This gives the United Nations ultimate jurisdiction over property rights for 8 million people. G.H.W. Bush was a strong proponent of Agenda21. The GOP establishment is a problem, not the solution.

If you think subprime sucked, wait until they finish off distribution of your wealth to the Third World (so they say) or more likely to the "Noble" class of the twenty-first century. We must work to get Santorum elected to save our property rights. And if Romney prevails, we must have a strong TEA Party shellacking again in the House and Senate to get some "real" men who are not ruling class elitist determining our future.

Indy| 2.29.12 @ 12:15PM

I like Christie on fiscal issues but that's it, your post raises one of the concerns I have about him

I'm curious to get your thoughts on this from gateway -

"Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder…
The Obama Administration now wants to demolish three dams in northern California to supposedly save the salmon… But the whole reason to support the move was based on shoddy and inconclusive scientific data."

When I read this, my thoughts turned to A21, what do you think?
http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....k-science/

Von Mises Jr.| 2.29.12 @ 1:57PM

Hi Indy. Coincidentally you asked someone who knows about this. I am an avid fisherman and go salmon fishing upstate NY and we have been out to Vancouver Island on a charter.
The real problem is that the government gives permits to fish farming operations to set up at the mouth of the salmon rivers. Normally, the fish hatch and go to sea for a few years in deep, cold water. This kills the lice.
But when they have cages filled with salmon year-round at the mouth of the river, the lice never die off. So when the fish come back to spawn, they are infested with lice. The fry die and the populations collapse. A good portion of rivers out west are virtually devoid of their salmon runs. Telegraph Bay used to have pinks they say you could walk across. We caught half-dozen salmon for $600 charter half-day.
It is not the damns so much, as the crony capitalism of both the US. and Canadian governments. The other thing I found interesting is that there is strip logging on the side of mountains just outside of Olympic National Park. Don't tell the enviornmentalist. They would search all around not to find it if their precious government might look bad.

Indy| 2.29.12 @ 3:24PM

Thank you sir, I appreciate your comments. This is certainly not my area of expertise but as always, I am willing to learn. You are correct, crony capitalism is wrong and doing much damage to free markets.

LMA| 2.29.12 @ 10:43AM

You would think that this would grow tiresome, even for someone as unbalanced as Neumayr. I mean, I love The American Spectator and I love conservative thought. Neumayr's rants aren't conservative "thought" and are a blemish on TAS.

Let me be very specific: this "RINO" thing is a litmus test for whether a commentator is serious or not. It is fine to have differing views on who is the best candidate in terms of ideology or electability. But the name calling is childish and free of analysis. Four years ago, Romney was welcomed as more conservative than McCain. Well, now people believe that there are other candidates even more conservative than Romney. Again, it is fine to hold that view, although frankly none of them have pristine records as "true conservatives." I can still remember Newt, when he was Speaker, disparaging "movement conservatives" for wanting more than he thought politically he could deliver. And Santorum thinks that team play means sacrificing conservative principle. But, fine, you can believe that they are more conservative than Romney.

None of that makes Romney a closet Democrat. To go from "not as conservative as X" to "RINO" is a ridiculous leap. It means that the people who use those insults aren't serious and ought not be listened to. My fondness for TAS leads me to regret having to say that.

Jabber3| 2.29.12 @ 11:24AM

You make a valid point. I am not sure what agenda George is pursuing but obviously he cannot deal with Romney's inevitable election.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 10:43AM

Actually, moderates do win: think Nixon, George H.W. Bush, & George W. Bush. The only conservative to ever win was Ronald Reagan, and everyone recognizes he was truly unique.

And if Ross Perot hadn't run as an independent in 1992 and 1996, moderates (Bush & Dole) had an excellent chance of defeating one of the most popular Democrat Presidents in modern history.

Ward Bond| 2.29.12 @ 11:26AM

Yeah, and look what you get from moderate Republican presidents.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 1:02PM

Nobama?

Butch| 2.29.12 @ 2:58PM

Wage and Price Controls, EPA, broken promises on taxes following "read my lips," handicapped lawsuits flying all across the country, two wars, a five-tril national debt, and one paltry tax cut.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:50PM

Actually, Reagan would be classified as a moderate by the pundits in the today's conservative media (was pro-abortion at first, raised taxes, immigration "reform", etc.). He was governor here in California, and I remember a lot of people saying similar things about him being too liberal on some issues. But Reagan's strength wasn't conservative idealogical purity; his strength was leadership and vision.

Peter| 2.29.12 @ 11:06AM

Even Reagan wouldn't be conservative enough for all those who say Romney isn't either. We don't have a perfect candidate because one doesn't exist, and those who are in the race may not necessarily the best the GOP has to offer but they are what is on offer.

For me, Romney has the experience, the money, the organization and the desire to win--not just the nomination but the presidency. Santorum, while not, I believe, as unelectable as he is made out to be, would still struggle far more against Obummer than Romney would.

Finally, Democrats showed in O's first two years what an extreme liberal agenda pursued without regard to finding bi-partisan compromises or bringing the public along can lead to in the 2010 mid-terms. A more moderate Republican may be just what the party needs to avoid a similar fate later should the GOP win the election in November. I'd rather the party be in a position to govern than to risk what would occur in a second Oman term, and all one needs to do is look objectively, at home and abroad, to see where that might lead.

Indy| 2.29.12 @ 12:23PM

"Even Reagan wouldn't be conservative enough for all those who say Romney isn't either."

I completely disagree, Romney is no Reagan as is nobody in the field. We all understand there is no such thing as a perfect candidate, each of the ones running have at least one major flaw. We have to play the game with the players on the field. I will vote for the GOP nominee, if it is Romney, we will have to drag him across the line, he thinks he is ready for the Chicago Machine but he's proven how weak he is and the full force of the Statists is geared up and ready to go. The GOP ground game is poor and no match for OFA. Romney has shown disdain for conservatives, it will hurt him in the general, the Mitt supporters cannot turn out the vote by themselves, they will need help from others.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:53PM

I disagree. Romney hasn't shown disdain for conservatives. The conservative media has shown disdain for Romney (after supporting him in 2008). But Romney keeps plugging ahead.

Scorpio51| 2.29.12 @ 11:09AM

I don't understand where people's heads are these days.

RomneyCare should disqualify Mitt from even being a contender. He not only can't disavow it, he won't. He won't repeal ObamaCare, he will replace it. Does anyone not care about this?

We don't need a manager as President, we need a leader. That's not Mitt.

There is still a lot more states in play that won't be for Romney. Santorum will probably win Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and maybe Texas. So this race is not over by a long shot.

Oh, and don't count out Newt.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:55PM

Romney will repeal Obamacare and has said so many times. And yes, he will replace it with conservative, competition driven ideas to drive down the costs. What more do you want?

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 3:16PM

Dude, you've been duped by the spinmeisters, Levin & Limbaugh. They're just angry white men (counterparts to Reverend Wright, Al Sharpton, & the Reverend Jackson). Their goal is to agitate. That gets them large audiences & lots of money. But it hurts Republicans. So, do your own thinking.

Romney took on the uninsured in Massachusetts, and he did so with the blessing of the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation. He fought to stop people from getting free rides with their healthcare at the taxpayers’ expense.

Romney's goal was simple and finite: to make freeloaders who were milking the State of Massachusetts pay for healthcare, either by paying the state (to offset its costs) or by purchasing health insurance from a private insurance company.

Here’s what the Heritage Foundation said in 2006: “Romney proposes two choices: Persons either buy insurance or pay for your own care. Not an unreasonable position and one that is clearly consistent with conservative values.”

And Newt enthusiastically supported it back then.

By clear contrast, Obama's goal is much more different & much broader in scope. In 2003, he said, "I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan (likely run by the federal government)." And his Obamacare was the first step toward single-payer, universal healthcare coverage.

Romneycare was a constitutional, limited approach plan aimed at reducing the costs of government for his State, while Obamacare was (and remains) an unconstitutional, march towards a long-hoped-for, utopian, big government goal (i.e., adopting a European-like national healthcare system).

Romneycare is 70 pages long while Obamacare is 40 times that. In addition (and consistent with his goal), Obama’s bureaucratic minions added over 6000 pages of new Obamacare requirements to the Federal Register.

The differences between Romneycare and Obamacare are like night and day. I don’t know why people can’t see that. Perhaps because of all political disinformation.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 3:16PM

And Newt enthusiastically supported it back then.

The differences between Romneycare and Obamacare are like night and day. I don’t know why people can’t see that. Perhaps because of all political disinformation.

jaspk| 2.29.12 @ 11:11AM

Delusional. Romney won and is leading and will continue to do so. Much is made of his "narrow" win in Michigan, but his percentage of the vote was higher this time than it was in 2008- 41.1 vs 38.9%

Scott| 2.29.12 @ 11:11AM

How about jumping on the we don't want Obama anothern four year team. Instead of writing the crap that you did... why not praise our candidates.

Beppo| 2.29.12 @ 11:14AM

Gotta agree. This guy is an albatross. In all honesty I think it's going to be tough to win in November but I'd rather at least hav a real conservative representing us than this suit. The one is going to take him apart over his taxes, his Bain history and the auto scam.

Butch| 2.29.12 @ 3:01PM

And he can't say a word about Obamacare without it backfiring on him. He is the surest loser in the field.

talk straight| 2.29.12 @ 11:14AM

"Even a paltry win in Michigan is a loss, said a few pundits, noting the erosion of support Romney saw in his home state since winning it easily in 2008 over John McCain."

In 2008 Romney garnered 38.9 percent of the Michigan primary votes. In 2012, he received 41.2 percent of the vote. Where is the erosion in support? I get the need to spin results if they don't go in your favor, but Mr. Neumayr you're trying to change facts to fit your narrative. Sometimes it might be a good idea to step out of the trenches to get a better perspective. You're obviously too deep in now to provide honest opinion.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 11:28AM

Amen, brother. If Romney wins the primaries & loses in the general, we can thank Neumayr, Levin, & Limbaugh. They helped tank McCain & gave us Obama in 2008.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:56PM

Exactly.

Anthony| 2.29.12 @ 11:28AM

MEMO TO MITT
I am not a big supporter of yours, that said, it appears you might be our nominee, hence, many of us conservatives will once again face a Hobson's Choice, as we did with McCain.
Your campaign has been as vile and low as any R campaign I've seen in decades, and that includes McCain's.
Your hyprocrisy and situational ethics are those of a leftist, and as a result, you have turned many conservatives against you.
While many conservatives understand that Obozo is an existential threat to the survival of America as a constitutional republic, if you and your D.C. braintrust think that our votes are a given, you are sorely mistaken.
While I will probably vote for you, as I could not live with myself without opposing Obozo, it is by no means a certainty, nor can you assume many other conservatives will be similarly motivated.
You had best act like a conservative, or at least a Republican, and man up.
Stop with the vile ads, the lies, the distortions, and the whining.
Prove to us that you actually have core beliefs worthy of being our nominee. Tell us who the hell you truly are and what you will fight for.
You claim to be "severely conservative", well damn it, start proving it and act like a man; because if you don't, Obozo will be re-elected and will destroy this great country.
If you lose, this time, you and the R establishment will not be able to pull a McCain and blame conservatives and employ other phony excuses for your loss.
You will go down in history as the last of the R establishment that helped destroy this great nation.
Then real America will rise from the ashes of both the D and R parties.
Think about it Mitt.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 1:03PM

McCain was a weak choice to begin with (Congressmen rarely win).

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:04PM

I suggest you read Romney's book "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness"

Anthony| 2.29.12 @ 3:04PM

I will read Romney's book thanks. Does he describe himself as a "severe conservative" in his book, or is that a more recent, nuianced articulation of his conservatism?
Just asking?

g2825m| 2.29.12 @ 5:42PM

Grow Up, Anthony! This is big league Politics!

Anthony| 2.29.12 @ 10:20PM

Oh my, I'm being lectured about big league politics by a bunch of RINO losers who only play in the bush league.

MissouriConservative| 2.29.12 @ 11:30AM

Romney won and a lot stronger than some are suggesting. His vote total was more than 2008 in fact it was 70,000 more in spite of running against UMW/Santoreum/MichaelMoore/Obama/teacher unions trying to throw the election. Why were the Democrats so motivated? Because it puts Michigan into play in the general election. This is turf that is now at real risk for the Dems to lose. Romney beat Santorum, but he also beat the Obama/union machine! Now they are trying to spin it as a narrow win, but trust me they are afraid. Very afraid. He may not have the charisma of Obama or Newt, but Americans know charisma isn't helping with jobs, the price of gas and food. The economy is the number 1 issue. Contraception and such just is not going to win the White House.

MissouriConservative| 2.29.12 @ 11:34AM

Wow, George, just using your own logic, three times more people wanted anyone but Rick and that is giving him the benefit of all the liberal Dems who crossed over responding to the Obama/union machine along with Michael Moore. We do not want a RINO, but we don't want a WHINO even more.

SnowCypher| 2.29.12 @ 11:39AM

So this is the backup article that George wrote just in case the close race in Michigan went the other way. The trouble with the RINO charge by this author or any other is that it is hollow and meaningless. Today, there are four competing categories or camps of conservatives: fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, economic conservatives and constitutional conservatives. Each camp pretends to care about all four bullet points of "true" conservatism, but they don't.

The Neo-Cons are simply not constitutional conservatives. They do not believe in the constitutional limits of Federal power or limits to the size and spending of the Federal government. They are primarily economic, free market conservatives who are all over the map on other conservative issues. New Gingrich is their guy.

True social conservatives can be all over the map on other conservative issues, often "going along to get along" as they try to turn back the American clock on social issues. Santorum is clearly their guy.

Fiscal conservatives also can be all over the map on other conservative issues but they want to limit the size and power of the Federal government and of all levels of government. Mitt Romney is clearly their guy.

The strict constitutionalists are almost always also Libertarians. They want the government out of the lives of the people as much as is humanly possible. Ron Paul is clearly their guy.

Santorum has "evolved" from a moderate to a social conservative, but is still a big spender at heart, t least with other people's money. The last minute Robocalls to Democrats made Ron Paul's case for him that Santorum is a Fake. Discussion over.

Gingrich is brilliant in theory but his trouble is that he has conflicting theories, some to the right and just as many to the left. Then there's the whole "Good Newt/Bad Newt" personality issue that woulbe problematic at best for the guy with the nuclear codes. I am not in favor of electing Dr. Strangelove to the Oval Office.

Ron Paul is a true fiscal conservative and a true Libertarian, making his foreign policy stances pretty hard for most other Conservatives to swallow.

Sorry, George, all the other "girls" have tried the glass slipper and failed. You really want to bet it does not fit Mitt? While Romney is primarily a fiscal conservative, he has his roots in social conservatism, economic conservatism and constitutional conservatism through the one thing most other people scorn about him, his Mormon faith. Mormons, whatever their unique religious views are strict constitutionalists, social conservatives and economic conservatives. Romney is in reality the only candidate with roots in all four camps of conservatism, although his journey is both one of personal discovery and a return home to his heritage.

So, George, take your RINO and just watch out for that tree. It's a jungle out there.

Simon Templar| 2.29.12 @ 12:15PM

That was another load of liberalatarian crap dropped on us by another paulbot. Discussion over.

Scott W| 2.29.12 @ 1:09PM

Come on Simon. Do you really think a "paulbot" would position Mitt as his guy. I agree with his points about Romney's roots. As a Mormon myself, I totally understand where Snowcypher is coming from with his comments. I am and have always been very politically active and always about small government conservatism, the "sacred" role of the constitution and, specifically, in allowing ALL men to worship how they chose. While I share many social conservative positions, I do think some go too far (e.g. anti-contraception). I want a President who will stand up as a Leader, share his position/belief (e.g. anti-abortion) and be willing to defend the rights who chose to condemn it BUT, (yes, more of a Liberatarian position).not constantly compelled to legislate against everything he doesn't believe in.

Butch| 2.29.12 @ 3:19PM

Well, brother Morman, Santorum nor anyone else has advocated "anti-contraception" as a political policy, issue, or proposed law. I am sure you know that.

Santorum, and a lot of non-Catholics like myself are opposed to forcing religious people (specifically, Catholics) to buy a product--either directly or indirectly--that is in direct conflict with the tenants of their religion, all for someone else's consumption. As a devout Catholic, Santorum opposes contraception for himself, but would not deny it to others, as long as they either pay for it themselves or someone who doesn't have objections pays for it.

But again, you knew that. You deliberately misrepresent Santorum's position by even bringing it up. I am neither Catholic nor LDS, but I have another word for misrepresent.

Clint| 2.29.12 @ 1:51PM

Ronald Reagan,
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.

Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path."

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Super Tuesday.

Polonius47| 2.29.12 @ 11:46AM

This article sums up what I've been feeling better than any other I've read. Romney's frontrunner candidacy feels like a bad intestinal virus that just keeps delivering an endless run of abdominal cramps and effluvient stench.

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 1:38PM

That kind of sentiment will lead us straight to Obamaland. We lose, but Limbaugh & Levin win!
They get to say, "See, we told you so!," like they did when McCain lost. They want to be kingmakers. No one gets to be President unless they go through the House of Limbaugh & get his official blessing. Everyone bows down & humbly asks, "Oh tell us Great One, is this one conservative enough?"

Where has all the reason gone?
Long time passing
Where has all the reason gone?
Long time ago
Where has all the reason gone?
Rush & Mark fooled them every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Jerry| 2.29.12 @ 11:47AM

He's polling rather well for a "weak" candidate. Gallup's latest trial heat shows:

Romney 50
Obama 46

Obviously there is a difference between a candidate who is truly weak and a candidate who is proclaimed weak because somebody doesn't like him.

Simon Templar| 2.29.12 @ 12:11PM

These were the same numbers for McCain going into the summer of 2007. He lost. Obama's poll numbers have gone up and down by a full 10 points over the last year and a half. The majority of Americans now hate Obamacare and want it repealed. That same electorate thinks Obama is a swell guy. A sizable majority think he does not deserve a second term, that same majority thinks he is doing well and approve of his performance as of last week and the faked unemployment numbers. The same electorate polled thinks the economy is beginning to turn around.

Yeah, let's decide the fate of our country by the latest poll. But which one, the ABC, NBC, FoxNews, Gallup, Rasmussen, PP, CBS, CNN, NYT poll?

The only 'poll' that matters is the one where you cast your vote in November.

John Walsh| 2.29.12 @ 11:58AM

41% for in Michigan, leaves 59% against; and 48% for in Arizona, leaves 52% against. Hardly a win in my book.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:09PM

A good example of the old saying "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics". Those are pretty good numbers for primary voting with 4 candidates. Try comparing them with elections in the past.

Magnum Firepower| 2.29.12 @ 8:22PM

By John Walsh's silly thinking... its 63% against Santorum.. and No one won in Michigan.

John Walsh is clearly out to lunch.

Simon Templar| 2.29.12 @ 11:59AM

Look, this is not rocket science and there is no need for anyone to throw the towel in and start the whining and wimpering yet. The majority of voters DO NOT want Romney! Romney barely won his home state, outspent his opponents 5 to 1, and has not done any better than he did in 2008. Why do you give up so easily? What is it about conservatives that are so hell bent on being losers? Why do you allow the progressive minority to rule over you in this nation and in your own party when you are the majority?

Get your asses to the polls, bring your relatives, friends, and neighbors with you and get it done!
Stop the GD infighting within the non-Romney candidates and get behind the non-Romney lead candidate in your state. Many of you say I will vote for whoever the GOP nominee is. Great, then start voting for the lead candidate that is not Romney in your state. If Gingrich is ahead in Georgia then vote for him, do not split the conservative vote, if Santorum, then Santorum.

This race is not about beating Obama for the GOP establishment and moderates, it is about holding on to power and defeating the conservative base and the Tea Party. As long as they can keep us unfocused, divided, and distracted they will achieve their objective. This is the only way they can win.

Can you hear me?

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:14PM

Has it ever dawned on you that maybe the majority DO want Romney. They certainly seem to want him more than the alternatives. If you really think that Santorum is a better candidate than Romney, then vote for Santorum. If you feel that Gingrich is the best candidate, then vote for him. But I think Romney is by far the strongest candidate that we have, and I am voting for him. Good luck trying to sabotage the election.

Kodiak| 2.29.12 @ 12:20PM

George please step away from the booze and give it a rest. Romney survived your boy holding hands with the liberals on this one. So Romney is not your type of republican. Earth to George you can keep on ranting about it or you can support the Obama lite as you like to call him. I know that you know neither of the other 3 will see the general but that is not Romney's problem but the problem of candidates that are not ready for prime time

Victory| 2.29.12 @ 12:48PM

Yes, things you say are true George. Obama vs. Obama lite is the fate we are all doomed to witness this fall. However, want to lay out the positives.

On Taxes : Obama will raise taxes on high earners and maybe later on middle classes as well. Romney will not raise taxes to start with but wont lower them either. He will likely raise taxes later in his term on fixed income earners but exempt enterprenuers

On Gays : Obama will ensure same sex marraige passes. Romney will let states do their thing

On Guns : Obama may curtail rights by some cities. Romney would likely not.

Economy : Obama may indulge in more direct Keynesian spending. Romney would do it on the sly, given he professed his admiration for spending oneself out of recessions

On religion in politics : Obama will continue his interference and expand the birth control mandates to other areas also. The best case scenario would be Romney not intruding into religious institutions functioning. However, he may bring his Mormon church thinkings into the mainstream, again on the sly

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:18PM

1) You obviously haven't looked at Romney's tax plan.
2) Romney lead the charge against same sex marriage in Massachusetts and raised it to the national level. He lost, but nobody fought harder against it. For that reason, he has pushed for a marriage amendment (similar to the one we passed in California, but at the national level).
3) Romney will cut spending. And he has business experience evaluating and cutting excess spending.
4) You really don't know a thing about Romney. Do you? Frankly, you sound like a bit of a religious bigot.

Scott W| 2.29.12 @ 12:53PM

Not just Santorum but, you and your ilk keep shooting and missing. Take the hint. Romney will be an "execution" President - likely getting more done to promote the conservative cause than the last two Republican Presidents combined. I know you're pushing your man now, but get ready to board the Romney train and let's deflate this behemoth Govt that plagues our lives and our future.

Who Knows?| 2.29.12 @ 12:57PM

Reading this indubitably heartfelt call to “shoot the RINO” Romney, by the England transplant, brought to mind an old saying---

“Oh, please, don’t throw me in that briar patch!”

What do I mean? In his own way, the author is giving juice to wannabe Romney supporters, in that his argument is so extreme, it makes them think something is wrong, here. If such a wingnut as Neumayr---the new mayor?—has to resort to such wild statements, as Romney is Obama-lite, well, maybe Mitt’s the one who’s pretty good.

As I wrote a while back, if one divided a piece of paper in half, and on the right side listed the policies and record of George W. Bush, and on the left side those of Romney, verses each other, but instead of their names only used an X and a Y, is there any doubt but that conservatives would prefer the Romney list?

In short, the elephant in the GOP primary “room” is that Romney is a Mormon. If he were a mainstream Christian, say of the denomination of W, he’d be running away with the nomination. Even if only one in twenty voters has a total bias against Mormons, that’s five percent.

Therefore, when looking at the results of all the primaries, so far, it seems prudent to me to add that five percent to what Romney actually did receive. For example, in Michigan, instead of 42%, sans Mormon hatred, he should have 47%---or, probably more.

So, keep it up George New Mayor! Do your atheistic (You are an atheist, right?) best to ream Romney, but you’re part of the problem, IMHO, except insofar as your feeble but misdirected attempt to avoid a Romney candidacy will be more useful FOR him, than against him.

Bring on that briar patch!

TPdanbo| 2.29.12 @ 1:03PM

Dear Sir, you seem to be ignorant of one very relevant fact regarding the "poor field of candidates"the republicans have to choose from, that is it is controlled by the GOP Elites,who are in opposition to the Conservatives of the party! They have been forcing out,ridiculing,and marginalizing the Conservative candidates all the while promoting,financially backing,there own RINO candidates. So if Romney does overcome somehow,he will assuredly LOSE TO OBAMA,the blame will fall squarely on The GOP Elites,for ignoring the base's wishes for their own!

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:20PM

Newsflash: the GOP "elites" aren't the ones who vote for the candidates. It is us the voters who are selecting our candidate.

martin j smith| 2.29.12 @ 1:13PM

I do not bet on any of the horses in this race but I do believe the Republican Party is no longer a vioable opposition party. It is over. The two options are to forge coalitions of Conservatives within the Republican Party or form a new Party--I do not have the answer to that one . The coalition should have as its main objectives the basic ideas that brought about the Tea Party Sentiment--Free Market Capitalism and smaller government. Its objective should be to ring the alarm to voters about legislation and executive actions that are contrary to Tea Party Principles.
It should also rate those who are not following the Tea Party ideas and actively work to unseat them.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 2:23PM

Romney does stand for smaller government and free market capitalism. His opposition to the auto bailouts probably hurt him a little in Michigan, but he has been talking about those two things for a long time. Read his book "No apology: The case for American Greatness"

Greg| 2.29.12 @ 1:15PM

I hate the establishment Republicans and their RINO Romney! I'm done voting Republican FOREVER! The GOP deserves to LOSE!
They HATE their own base! Won't have to worry about my vote it's gone!

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 3:40PM

Stay home... they win. Goddamm quitters. You make me sick. You may as well be a Democrat.

chdhan| 2.29.12 @ 1:29PM

A few points: Romney didn't do worse in MI than 2008, he actually did slightly better (41% in 2012 and 39% in 2008). This was even in the face of clear mischief by democrats although the degree that this affected the total is not clear (probably ranging from 1.5-3 %). This is also evidenced from the exit poll data showing Santorum won the liberal vote and the vote from people that oppose the Tea Party. Romney has his faults but they seem to pale in comparison to his opponents. Are we now ready to talk down the importance of higher education like Santorum was ranting about? Talk about losing in his home state, Santorum lost his last election that counted in Pennsylvania by 18% and he was supporting Sen. Specter at the time. Don't forget that Santorum endorsed Romney just 4 years ago as a strong conservative.
I am conservative and have always leaned republican but the nature of this primary and the wackiness of the supposed conservatives (Santorum, Gingrich, Cain ...) in the race is really putting me off.

DavisJohn| 2.29.12 @ 1:30PM

So I'm wondering who exactly all of these so called conservative journalists keep referring to regarding the "establishment" Republicans that are backing Romney. All I hear from all of the conservative media is anti-Romney. Frankly, I like his conservative credentials and his strong leadership despite all of the pundits trying to force feed me the latest flavor of the week (none of which are as strong as Romney). It seems like the conservative media cares more about idealogical purity than in choosing a strong, effective leader. I want a president who is a leader, who can get things done, and who can make good decisions for the country. I think Romney is an excellent choice and the best choice.

Judy Hopson | 2.29.12 @ 5:57PM

Amen

Cynicon Implant| 2.29.12 @ 1:30PM

I think everybody here who is worried that Mitt is too nice to go after Obama just needs to look at the way that his campaign has gone after Gingrich and Santorum. Some very hardball politics.

Romney can be civil to Obama while the PACs and others attack on the wings. Remember that Bush was civil to Kerry and then BAM -- the Swift Boats got launched and see-ya-later John.

Christopher| 2.29.12 @ 2:06PM

Then you are saying the Newt and Rick are the true conservatives when they have lived off the American taxpayer their whole political lives. These perennial politicians have enlarged the national debt and size of government during their tenure so who is the true RINO. Why is it that Catholics support Romney over Santorum is it that he is a fiscal conservative and can fix the economy? Newt actually borrowed from the social security fund to come up with his balanced budgets. Rick's support of Arlen Specter is not exactly conservatism! You have a very qualified candidate who can beat Barack Obama and you seem to be taking a page out of the DNC. Every time the DNC comes up with an attack add both Newt and Rick use it in their attacks upon Romney. This is the first time in 50 years that the DNC has intervened in a republican primary, and they are scared of Romney getting the nomination. I believe Ann Coulter when she states that Romney is the true conservative, George what party do you belong to?

Garfield| 2.29.12 @ 2:25PM

Romney had to outspend Santorum 6 to 1 plus his Ron Paul attack dog let loose on Santorum and only barely managed to win his home state, due to the big cities.

Seriously, Romney isn't electable because Obama would have more money to throw around.

Hopefully Newt Gingrich will derail the Romney train on Super Tuesday.

Sue| 2.29.12 @ 2:39PM

I'll raise you three RINOs, a bunch of disgruntled conservatives, thousands of moderates, and no white women voters, that the Republicans bluff and lose in November.

Obama will get all of the black vote, most all of the white women vote, a huge chunk of the Hispanic vote (amnesty or millions becoming naturalized citizens before the election, like Clinton/Gore did),
government workers, welfare queens, 40% of the military, and every American on food stamps and free health care.

We lose. We are entering the Dark Ages once again where all enlightenment is snuffed out by an entrenched bureauracy and moralless politicians.

I say this because my union pal friend of 21 years will vote for Obama because he just "can't stand" rich people and Bush gave tax cuts to millionaires. Of course, it's okay for him to reduce his taxes, and have envy in his heart. He's so blind that when it hits him upside his head, he'll still vote Democrat party. It's what the Democrat party counts on. Illiteracy and ignorance of freedom and the responsibility that goes with it.

Disgusted| 2.29.12 @ 2:39PM

I hope the American Spectator isn't paying this Neumayr guy to write these articles. Every article of his lowers the reputation of the Spectator as a serious journal. This wasn't an article, it was a tirade that is as unhinged as the stuff the extreme left from DailyKos vomits out.

This journal must get rid of Neumayr. I say this as a very conservative voter who supported Newt Gingrich.

redmanrt| 2.29.12 @ 10:11PM

Perry

e pearse| 2.29.12 @ 2:43PM

"Romney bleeding" is utter nonsense and garbage reporting or commentary.

Romney's 5 points over Santorum meant 13.5% more votes that what Santorum got.

The only one that came out hurting was Santorum, not only because of the loss, but because his 'Judas' act of seeking the help of liberals and democratic voters to be able to beat Romney. Even if he had achieve it, for whom does he think these voters would be voting in November? Santorum is sure to lose.

ray| 2.29.12 @ 2:46PM

Obama thanks you for your help in campaign.

Free&Strong;| 2.29.12 @ 3:02PM

I love how you are trying to make a win look like a loss by only focusing on the margin of victory. This is nonsense because in 2008 McCain and Huckabee didn't focus on Michigan and went straight to South Carolina. So of course Mitts margin of victory was bigger. If you were at all intellectually honest, you would note that Mitt got a higher percentage of the vote in 2012 as well hundreds of thousands more votes than he got in 2008.
But instead you focus on the margin of victory, which is exactly what the democrats and UAW workers who inflated Santorums numbers wanted you to do. Because as much as you try to spin it, the fact is that Mitt carried Republicans by 10 points. So if we followed Santorums rule from New Hampshire, that only republicans should pick our nominee, than Romney would have won by ten. Sorry, that's not a weak victory!
Romney has 165 delegates. The 3 other candidates COMBINED have 136. Nope, there's no frontrunner!
Pay no attention to the petty pundit behind the curtain, Neumayr is the great and powerful OZ!

R. Freedom| 2.29.12 @ 3:09PM

When I first heard the term "Republican Establishment," I scratched my head in wonderment. I knew it was pejorative (Alinsky's 5th Rule), but no one knew exactly what was meant by it, or who was included in it. But, I think I may’ve stumbled across the beginnings (and perhaps understandings) of the term.

Use of the term “Establishment” can be traced back to Hunter “Gonzo” Thompson in an article titled, "The Hashbury is the Capital of the Hippies" (May, 1967). Thompson explained that the hippies were protesting against the values of the “Establishment.” William Ayers, B. Rae Dohrn, & the Weather Underground picked up the mantle around 1969 and claimed they were fighting against the evils of the “Establishment.”

Then, Rush “Gonzo” Limbaugh resurrected the term by cleverly putting the word “Republican” in front of it. (As Gonzo Thompson was fond of saying: "Viva la Rush!") Now the “Republican Establishment” is the contemned straw man for Rush’s radio listeners (indoctrinaires? Indoctrination airs?).

So, the Republican Establishment appears to be about as real as the motivations for the Cultural Revolution of the 60s and as real as the perceived enemies of Bill Ayers’ Weather Underground. But don’t bother looking for them. Other than some (yet unidentified) guests at a luncheon in the Hamptons Limbaugh attended in the early 1990s, nobody as yet is quite certain who they are.

Supposedly, many of the Republican Establishment are big campaign donors. Therefore, Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess, and the Koch brothers all have to a part of the cabal.

Judy Hopson | 2.29.12 @ 5:55PM

Oh, I so love this. I keep asking who all of these RINO, establishment people are. No one can or will name any of them. I just need the names so I can respond to them directly if I so choose. No names forthcoming. I guess it is a click within a click and only the highest ranking members know who these "evil doers " are.

Jimbo| 2.29.12 @ 3:12PM

Romney is my last choice, well maybe not last choice..that would be Paul. But make no mistake, once the primary is over and if Romney is the victor he will get my full support. If it were any other person other Obama in the WH, I might have used this year to sit home and send a message to the Republican party but the danger is too great. We must absolutely purge this country of Obama or it could be the end of this great nation.

Dick Nome| 2.29.12 @ 3:35PM

'Sit home and send a message'... what message is that?? You don't give a sh!t?? That is what happened in 2006 and look what came to pass. Democrats took over and we got a big pile of Manure. Now how do you propose to deal with it??? Stay home agian?? That is destructive at best and way beyond stupid. There is no message.

Jimbo| 3.1.12 @ 4:27PM

Dick, that is the stupidest comment I've ever read. Did you even read what I wrote, I wonder? Yes, sometimes you do have to send a message. Sorry, that's what I believe. Otherwise, nothing ever changes. What we are talking about here is the difference between going off the cliff at full speed (Democrats) vs. going off in first gear (Republicans). The Republican party DOES NOT represent me any more. I am conservative, both parties believe in big government now. Why should I care if we fly into the abyss or do a slow crawl into it? I am hoping to God that I am wrong, which is why I am willing to take a chance and vote on Romney.

Judy Hopson | 2.29.12 @ 5:47PM

Now that is a resonable response to the temper fit we just read.

Occam's Tool| 2.29.12 @ 5:16PM

Santorum is the conspiracy theorist coming from RONPAUL!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

g2825m| 2.29.12 @ 5:38PM

While Romney continues to rack up votes and delegates...keep spinning George! The facts do NOT back you up.

Signed a very conservative TP member

JonB| 2.29.12 @ 5:43PM

Last time I checked it was the voters who choose our nominee. So far they seem to be going for Romney.

You "conservative" pundits don't decide for us. Now go pound sand with the DailyKos liberals.

Judy Hopson | 2.29.12 @ 5:44PM

George, George, George, settle down. Rino, Rino, Rino. Stop. This is so tiresome. Is this gentleman so evil and unacceptable that it behoves you to tear him down? How about letting the American people make up their minds by using logic and reason. The goal is to defeat Obama and send this administration packing. Support the person of your choice in your own way, but tone down your angst about Romney. Is this personal?

Kenny| 2.29.12 @ 5:50PM

This article is garbage. It reeks of liberal populism.

The fact that you write Romney "..will never be a conservative..." says it all. There's nothing he can do to change your mind. Based on your anti-Mormon article a while back which talks about the ugly attacks we can expect from the left, I would say that you are not well acquainted with more than 1 active mormon. You should get to know more.

MFG| 2.29.12 @ 6:43PM

The headline "Shooting A RINO" is in monumentally bad taste

Yyou should remove this headline and apologize

Bob| 2.29.12 @ 6:52PM

For all the professional Leftwing Republican apologists, that's you beltway establishment types, tell us where Romney would be making a campaign on what he stands for, with no money, like Santorum? Romney is going to lose even by using the Democrat tactics of personal attack, political lies, changing his supposed positions and getting a swarm of crook Republican power freaks to endorse him, like Dole and McCain. What a bunch of tools.

Bob| 2.29.12 @ 6:57PM

Look at this, thousands of Romney paid to comment and attack anyone who pops up to tell the truth about their liar, Romney. Romney is a liar and I'll tell how you can tell when he's lying. Watch him from now on. When he hesitates and starts and stops in a semi-stammer, he's lying. He does it a lot. When I first noticed it I thought it may be a speech impediment, but it isn't, it comes and goes like a Poker tell/ Romney is a fake and so is everyone on this and any other site who says he isn't.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 9:09PM

Unfortunately you are wrong.

Oh Romney is a fake all right, but his sycophant followers are for real. Their unwavering acceptance of this spineless, duplicitous piece of crap who could not win against the worthless Rino McCain is what the Republican establishment is banking on.

Once again they give us a crap sandwich because they feel he can win acceptance of the independent voter and conservatives have to vote for Romney because the only choice is an Obama win.

Well thanks, but F-U very, very much on both accounts.

I will not vote for Romney.

redmanrt| 2.29.12 @ 10:09PM

Perry

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:56PM

Who the bleep are you to try and verbally beat down anybody who favors Romney. If you don't like him, then don't.

snyderart| 2.29.12 @ 7:06PM

Let's go people... we can still select who we really want!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/.....ef=tn_tnmn

Cynthia Skelton| 2.29.12 @ 7:55PM

I was Tea Party before Tea was cool and I will not - under any circumstances - vote for Willard. Best to let Obama have it and let him take the fall for it all than to put a leftist RINO up there and have the Tea Party element of the Republicans end up getting blamed because that IS the way the establishment Republicans and the left will spin it. Nope not gonna do it!

Magnum Firepower| 2.29.12 @ 8:16PM

George Neumayr has never accomplished anything of significance in his life.

Why does anyone pay attention to this buffoon?

Bob| 2.29.12 @ 10:00PM

This is the perfect Romney supporter. He smears the author and is unable to make any point against what he wrote. Purely negative, just like a Democrat.

Magnum Firepower| 2.29.12 @ 8:24PM

Here's the deal... all you whining crybaby RINOs bitchin' about Romney...

If you have a better candidate.. get him out there and vote for him. If not... grow up.

Boar Hunter| 2.29.12 @ 9:18PM

LOL thats rich. Accusing people who don't like the RINO of being RINO's.

You might enjoy the taste of the crap sandwich you've been offered. Please feel free to eat it and don't forget to keep telling everyone it's not that bad.

redmanrt| 2.29.12 @ 10:08PM

Perry

Samuel Orr| 2.29.12 @ 8:33PM

It is not accurate to characterize all those who support Romney as "establishment Republicans." A number of us began supporting conservatives when Barry Goldwater ran. Some of us think Ron Paul is flakey on many issues, that Newt Gingrich is detestable and that neither Santorum nor the others have executive experience. Romney is no perfect conservative but and other conservatives including Ann Coulter and Washington Examiner editorial board genuinely believe he is conservative enough.

Garfield| 2.29.12 @ 8:50PM

In other news, Newt Gingrich got into a duel of speeches with Obama (apparently Obama felt threatened by Newt's new $2.50 a gallon plan), and Newt made Obama look like an idiot.

PCP Smoker| 2.29.12 @ 9:00PM

How could any red blooded conservative not support a guy who is for the progressive tax system. Correction, not only the the progressive tax system, but, in the words of Romney, "our progressive tax system."

MassManny| 2.29.12 @ 9:51PM

The Romney Report - MassResistance
http://massresistance.org/romney/

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 9:56PM

Mr. Neumayr: Do you really think the people who voted for Governor Romney are stupid and shallow enough to make the decision to vote for him without benefit of critical thinking but only by means of SuperPac/campaign ads. How insulting. He's earned his primary victories. He's shown he can take a punch and come back stronger. Nobody from the Romney campaign will be playing TV ads in my face and shoving cash into my pocket when I take ballot in hand and mark it for Governor Romney. And I think inviting Kid Rock was a nice move - a son of Detroit who's really into helping Michigan, as is Governor Romney along with the rest of the country, of course.

Bob| 2.29.12 @ 10:04PM

People are swayed by what they hear most and what they hear last. If advertising didn't work they wouldn't do it. it isn't because people are stupid, it's because they are not sure what the truth is and the truth is that Romney and Santorum tied in Michigan with 15 delegates each. The popular vote doesn't count for anything. Kid Rock, Donald Trump, Bob Dole and John McCain, it doesn't matter, no one can help Romney, he's a liar and everyone will know it by the time this is over.

redmanrt| 2.29.12 @ 10:04PM

"Santorum's loss may make the former Speaker of the House relevant again."

I believe Gingrich will be very relevant when he, at the right moment, endorses the man who sat beside him at the Las Vegas debate – Perry.

Should Have Impeached| 2.29.12 @ 10:32PM

I hope Mr. Romney knows what he faces:

1. If he wins he'd better be ready for "the base" to hold his feet to the fire. If he's ready for that, maybe he'll perform. But his distaste for "incendiary" remarks regarding a president who's destroying the country doesn't bode well, and he could go down in history as the man who could have saved the country but didn't. That's if he WINS the election.

Or:

2. He could lose to Obama and incur the wrath of conservatives everywhere who will blame him for not caring enough about the country to step aside and leave the contest to Santorum and Gingrich, two men who, unlike him, at least SOUND like they're ready to fight the socialist scourge that is the current presidency.

John| 3.1.12 @ 4:45PM

Good Luck!...you certainly will need it.
You want a real defeat? run either Santorum or Gingrich, and you will lose the house, and not get your majority in the Senate.

Havoc29| 2.29.12 @ 10:45PM

Can you say John McCain redo or 2.0 or whatever? This is one conservative that is staying home or voting libertarian this year. Romney is Obama-lite, nothing more.

Ron| 2.29.12 @ 10:46PM

Romney has been running for President since 2007 so what has he accomplished. We Conservatives doe not believe he is a Conservative (More Liberal than Moderate), Voter turn out is down about 10% overall for the GOP Primaries, there is a total lack of enthusiasm in the republican ranks and he continues his scorched earth policy and politics of personal destruction for anyone who opposes him. If he is our Nominee, We the Republicans are in Trouble. Willard is the Establishment GOP's candidate not that of the republican voters. Maybe they can elect him to the White House without us?

POST American| 2.29.12 @ 10:52PM

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

-----With the chillingly ANTI-Constitutional,
chillingly North Korean NDAA 1021 being
brought in as the 4 decades on Globalist
plunder, handover and RED China TREASON
OP goes for FINAL consolidation
---yes, perhaps, 'SUB--Mitt ROME--knee'
is your man.

On other fronts, interested to read about
long established, leading Princeton EUGENIST,
Dr. Peter Singer renewing his push for
designating children up to the age of 3 as
---'disposable' at the parents discretion.
And yes ---that includes healthy children.

"----DO YOU KNOW HOW DARK IT IS?
----------------HOW LATE IT IS?"

DO YOU?

---------------HUAC/ NUREMBERG 2012------------

---------------------------Then DO IT!

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 10:53PM

So then, Bob, according to your logic - is that why people have voted for Santorum? Based upon being "swayed" by his ads without having vetted him?

Barbara| 2.29.12 @ 11:05PM

Have probably seen more vile posts here than at most other blogs. It reminds me of the savagery of the Daily Kos or Huffington Post. I don't know whether it's coming from Dem trolls or ultra-conservative sore losers. Regardless, it's very ugly and totally lacking in any genuine intellectuality.

Ken Royall| 3.1.12 @ 1:04AM

Yes, the guy that keeps winning is a loser and the losers are winners. Crazy world. The guy who wrote this article is a scumbag for the headline alone.

Soljerblue| 3.1.12 @ 2:03AM

"Is this really the best that the GOP can do? If so, may God help us all."

I believe it's safe to say it's the best that the party elites WANT to do. I know our political history has dealt badly with third parties, but maybe it's time for the Republican base to get out from under the unprincipled so-called party leaders who give us Doles, Bush 41s, McCains, and their newest pick in a long train of losers.

Zal| 3.1.12 @ 3:35PM

If it is Romney as the republican nominee and there's a viable 3rd candidate, this may be the time. McCain couldn't pull it of and neither will Romney. We need someone different and new and Romney is damaged goods. There's a lot of angst out there and it won't be another Ross Perot this time around.

John| 3.1.12 @ 4:40PM

You Romney bashers better pay attention, or you will get another four years of the big"O".
There is a poll out nationally( now pay attention repubbies) as it breaks down 30% Republicans, 27% Democrats the rest of us are in the center, now the easy part so you will understand that is 43% left, your candidate doesn't exist in that stratum.
Those of us left in the center are a mixture of americans disenchanted with both parties, it's one thing to be progressive and another thing to be ultra conservative, but it is not where we are at.
This country is in debt, broken, kaput, it's the economy you ninnies, until it gets fixed nothing else will matter.
Romney has the plan and experience so let go of your bias because he is a Mormon, and lets get him elected.

MN| 3.1.12 @ 8:27PM

Thank you for expressing in words what I feel.

Drifter| 3.2.12 @ 4:14PM

The me-too libs of the GOP establishment have managed to squelch all the conservatives in the race and now are willing to hand another term to Obama. The only thing they fear more than Marxism is real conservatism...

It's not time for a third party--it's time for a new party.

Ron| 3.2.12 @ 4:18PM

Excellent job using the impeccable sources like Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post and other members of the liberal chattering class. After reading this I am no longer supporting Romney, I will suport one of the other guys. Its a shame that over 50% of Americans hate those other guys or we could probably win in November.

Dilbert| 3.4.12 @ 1:08AM

Good job! I will NEVER vote for the man who lost to the man who lost to Obama! Obama is doing a fine job of killing the Democrat brand, while Romney is the poster boy of why I quit the Republican Party!! I will vote for a Republican if one gets the nomination.
Romney is only a Republican because he knew he would lose to Obama in a primary election!

Craig Berlin| 3.6.12 @ 11:32AM

I am no fan of the policies of the left but when you resort to invective such as this, focusing on "well you're a BIGGER one," you accomplish nothing but the further polarization of this country. I'm sorry you feel that anyone who isn't screaming bloody murder about Pres. Obama is a "RINO" but if that's true, then the left is correct about what the Republican party has become and it's no better than they are.

Things are never going to change while our leaders and acidic pundits such as yourself continue to behave like spoiled children. If you rightfully object to gross over-generalizations such as the "War on Women" as I do then don't do the same thing yourself. If you find the disrespectful comments of Bill Maher, Ed Schultz ad nauseum then don't defend when Rush does the same thing. It's hypocritical and it's unproductive.