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The Spectacle Blog
I’ve always discarded the notion that South Carolina Republicans are mere “sheeple,” following the lead of the establishment or the conventional wisdom in order to pick the expected “winner” of the Republican nomination contest rather than actually choosing the person they like best. On the other hand, there is something to be said for South Carolina crowning the establishment choice every single time. It did so for GHW Bush; it did so for Bob Dole, for GW Bush (43), and for John McCain. Now, if some polls are to be believed, there has been some movement toward Romney even though polls also show South Carolinian Republicans to be, on the whole, more conservative than Romney and long confirmed in being disposed not to be very warm to him. Is this movement just another rush to jump on a bandwagon? If so, why? How does it benefit a primary voter who is NOT a political activist to be an anonymous rider on somebody’s bandwagon? I’ve never understood the mentality of rushing towards a perceived winner just because he is perceived to be a winner. What good does that do?
I want to think more highly of South Carolina voters than that. Those voters have a chance this week to reject bandwagonitis and instead show real independence. Let’s see if they do…. or if, like sheep to the slaughter, they stumble their way into the Romney corral.
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More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/16/are-south-carolina-republicans
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PattyMor| 1.16.12 @ 2:35PM
The Republican "Establishment" is trying to stampede the early voters into accepting the meme that Romney is the most electable. When in fact, his Romneycare alone is enough to question his electability.
If you think they sliced and diced ole' Herman Cain, wait until "Axe" (as in Axlerod) gets to Romney. He'll be the incarnation of Scrooge McDuck, King Midas, and Gordon Gekko all rolled into one. And they'll have enough money to beat the drum endlessly to convince the "sheeple" of that.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.16.12 @ 3:06PM
Romney has more talent than the rest of the field.
That's why voters want him.
I would prefer Perry buy he looks like a bumbling idiot and has made some serious errors.
If anyone is an example of sheeple it's the writers at AMSPEC who appear determined to trash Romney.
George S| 1.16.12 @ 3:54PM
If more people are conservative, then why isn't Ron Paul leading the polls? Because they see a drawback to his views on foreign policy. So why should Santorum or Gingrich -- who are less "fiscally" or "socially" conservative that Paul -- do any better? Because they, too, have drawbacks; whether Gingrich's character or Santorum's 6-year absence from the public eye.
Romney, on the other hand, plays the role of candidate perfectly: the camera likes him, he speaks articulately and he debates well. He's the better showman, and that goes a long way. Electability and perception go hand in hand. If Palin were in the race, she would be way ahead and Obama would have announced his retirement. And her electability issues run much deeper than Romney's but nobody would care.
Mike Alexander| 1.18.12 @ 9:19AM
If Palin could do as well as her supporters claim SHE WOULD HAVE RUN. The field has not enlarged since September 30 of last year, which was the latest Palin figured she could delay a decision. Perhaps Perry's apparent strength daunted her, but when he collpased in favor of Hermain Cain (a man who had zero chance) she had to know that the position of the "anti-Romney" was hers to take - IF she had the basal popularity amongst the GOP base that people here are claiming.
GOP primary voters tend to nominate the person who is "next in line", which right now is Romney. As the 2008 running mate Palin's position "in line" was at least as good as Romney's--she alone could neutralize this Romney advantage. With this structural advantage in her favor, the ONLY reason not to run is that she believed that too many Republicans who preferred her would nonetheless vote against her simply because they believed Romney to be "more electable" than Palin.
She was right not the run.
It will only be after Romney loses to an extraordinarily weak incumbant that is will finally sink into the minds of Republican primary voters that choosing inauthentic spokesmen for conservatism like McCain and Romney *does not work* and so they might as well vote for whom they believe has the best policy based on the most correct beliefs.
daboss| 1.16.12 @ 4:15PM
I agree. Palin was my first and maybe only choice.
I cannot believe we are about to nominate a north eastern liberal - are we just that stupid?
PCP Smoker| 1.16.12 @ 7:11PM
I asked myself the same question. And, yes, they are. How can a party nominate a candidate (McCain) who openly despised conservatism. Conservatives, supposedly 40% of the country, need to get their heads out of their asses.
Loadmaster| 1.16.12 @ 5:17PM
Here in TN..I haven't met anyone that's a Mitten. Let's hope the SC voters wake up or the polls just that wrong.
Newt2012
Imissbuckley| 1.16.12 @ 6:11PM
"Are South Carolina Republicans Mere Sheeple?"
No, but they are very fickle. After all the state gave us Sen. Jim DeMint, also gives us Mr. Lindsay "Restrict the First Amendment" Graham. So like all voters....they make mistakes, often big ones.
Clint| 1.16.12 @ 6:40PM
We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
PCP Smoker| 1.16.12 @ 7:09PM
Good point, a first for you Quinn. That's an open primary which leads to many non-conservatives voting for the least conservative candidate. The election of Mclame cemented their reputation as a dumb redneck state.
Clint| 1.16.12 @ 7:44PM
" CNN Poll: Obama tied with Romney & Paul in November showdowns
Washington (CNN) – Mitt Romney is all tied up with President Barack Obama in a likely general election matchup, with the president showing signs of weakness on the economy and Romney seen as out of touch with ordinary Americans, according to a new national survey.
And a CNN/ORC International Poll released Monday also indicates that Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is also even with Obama in another possible showdown this November. The survey also suggests the Republican advantage on voter enthusiasm is eroding, which could be crucial in a close contest."
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Mittens' Tail.
Helen Whitcomb| 1.16.12 @ 9:24PM
I am not a 'sheeple' and I hope that the people will see the writing on the wall and NOT fall for the sooth talking Mirr Romney, who is just the 'white version' of Barack Hussein Soetoro Obama. Romnye is the last PERSON we need to send up against Obama, we need a REAL CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN for president and not just another RINO who will lose the election in what may well be the most important election in this decade. We are fighting for OUR freedoms, OUR rights and OUR future, and we need to promote someone who can retain that for us, or else our present LIAR-IN-CHIEF, will continue to destroy America from within and reduce us to a third world country. Now that his Kenyan birth certificate has been found, maybe we can have him impeached for lying to get into our Oval office in the first place.