-
One of The London Soldier Beheading Suspects British Born
May 23, 2013 | 6 comments
-
The Religion of Peace Strikes London Again
May 22, 2013 | 7 comments
-
Carney Goes Birther on Major Garrett
May 22, 2013 | 7 comments
-
Ray Manzarek, R.I.P.
May 20, 2013 | 2 comments
-
Thoughts on The Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
May 20, 2013 | 1 comment
The Spectacle Blog
As both John Tabin and Jim Antle have noted (as did Team Romney even before the results), Rick Santorum has no more delegates this morning than he did 24 hours ago. Yet there is no question that Rick Santorum is in a far stronger position than he was 24 hours ago, delegates or no delegates.
More than anything else, it is irrefutable evidence that there is still considerable resistance amongst Republicans towards Mitt Romney as their standard bearer against President Obama. Republicans simply do not want to have their nominee spoonfed to them. But it isn’t clear that conservatives are necessarily going to coalesce around Santorum and as Stacy McCain points out neither Santorum nor Gingrich have the resources to take on Romney one on one and would need to embark upon a strategy of divide and conqueor. The only way for that strategy to work is if Santorum and Gingrich agree that Romney must be defeated at all costs and that both men could accept the other as the nominee if it came to that. However, I’m not sure if either man would be prepared to do so at least not at this point and if one of them eventually came round to that position it might be too late by then.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see if Romney shifts his focus away from Gingrich and towards Santorum. Romney did a great deal of damage against Gingrich over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While Santorum doesn’t have that particular association, he did spend more than 15 years on Capitol Hill and became a lobbyist. Romney will tag Santorum with the “Washington insider” label and characterize him as “someone who spent his adult life in government” who favored earmarks and pork barrel spending. If Santorum can respond to this critique effectively and more artfully than Gingrich while simultaneously casting further doubt on Romney’s record, conservatives could coalesce around him. That is, unless, Newt finds a way to once again rise from the ashes like a Phoenix in the Arizona Primary.
View all comments (17) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/02/08/thoughts-on-the-santorum-sweep
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Ailes: A Voice for the Silent Majority
- The Demise of Money and Credit
- Obama’s Drone War
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Bill| 2.8.12 @ 9:43AM
Santorum kicked ass.
Romney is derailed, and will never recover.
Gingrich is fading away.
Ron Paul is DONE. He needs to end his campaign.
Obama is nervous! If Santorum gets the GOP nod, he'll carry PA, too bad for Obama.
Mike 3/505| 2.8.12 @ 4:30PM
I ain't a Paulbot...but I believe he needs to stay in the race and continue the discussion on the FED and other unconstitutional aspects of our government's economic meddling. Foreign policy...not so much.
Bill| 2.8.12 @ 5:32PM
We have people to do that work.
Occam's Tool| 2.8.12 @ 6:01PM
The economic meddling arguments can be done by human beings.
Clint| 2.8.12 @ 7:49PM
Then That Leaves The RINO-CINO Parrots Out, Who Are Parroting Dr.Ron Paul On The Need To Audit The FED.
The Tea Party Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Oldefarte| 2.8.12 @ 6:05PM
This enthusiasm over Santorum from leading the charge over this healthcare mandate from WELFARECARE is possibly playing right into Obama's/Democrats' [Rules for Radicals] political hands [and could box canyon/dead end street the Republicans if they are not careful]. The core essential concern of this country is it's deplorable economy, humongous unemployment, bottom of the toilet real estate crisis, governmental defecit/debt monstrosity; and if the Republicans become sidetracked on these social issues [and forget about holding Democrats'/Obama's feet to the fire over same], then he/they win in November. It's a diversionary tactic they are employing [just as they did in 2008 that succeeded in getting him elected]. Obama is not fearful, but instead no doubt has that typical JAKCARS-EATIN-BRIARS smile on his face instead!!!!!!!!!
RJ| 2.8.12 @ 10:58AM
This race has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. The main story is that the base doesn't want Romney. Money and the GOP establishment isn't going to change that.
Crassus| 2.8.12 @ 11:03AM
Kudos to the voters in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. They thumbed their noses in the faces of Fox News and the GOP Establishment who are trying to ram Obamney down our throats.
JazzyJeff| 2.10.12 @ 2:27AM
Fox News has been quite a disappointment. I'm
sad that I don't have a major news outlet that I
can trust any more. They blew it with this one.
Pete| 2.8.12 @ 12:10PM
The damage to Newt did not come from Romney or his money. It came from an over-whelming reaction from the DC insiders against Newt after winning SC. That's face it, nobody listens to Romney. He is too dull and says too little, and needs a teleprompter to do that.
Now if these same pro-Romney crowd attacks Santorum the same way, they are showing their hand as being dis-ingenuous and give the tea partiers the message that it is really the tea party they have contempt for.
Windy City Commentary| 2.8.12 @ 12:37PM
Good point. The DC insiders and their media buddies act like they had nothing to do with Newt's downfall following South Carolina. They re-wrote history to attack Newt, and then they try to act like they didn't effect Newt's support. Instead they pretend that Newt himself lost the support by his recent actions or words. Meanwhile, everything Newt does (ie. press conference after the NV Caucus) they find a way to belittle it, and act like Newt has dug an even deeper hole.
Windy City Commentary| 2.8.12 @ 12:34PM
Romney is a Massachusetts insider. Which is worse, being a DC insider, where there is a hint of conservativism and conservativism has prevailed in some decades, or Massachusetts; where Republicans are satisfied with the likes of Scott Brown and think that's the most conservative we can get? I'd rather vote for a guy who was overpaid by Fannie and Freddie, than the guy who was first in the nation to sign socialized medicine into law. I'm growing tired of the Massachusetts Excuse.
Garfield| 2.8.12 @ 5:06PM
Gingrich wasn't competing in those three states to begin with...
I'm glad Romney got clobbered, but the pro-Santorum people need to wise up, the only reason Santorum one was cause Romney had been ignoring him and Gingrich wasn't competing with him in those states.
I really don't think Santorum can stand up to Obama in the general (though he would be a much better candidate than Romney and one I could support unlike Romney), nor do I think Santorum has the experience needed.
If Santorum wins the nomination, I will support him 100% (as long as he doesn't have Mittens as his VP), but I'm not sure he can win because he can't take the fight to Obama, the establishment, and the media as well as Newt can.
I think if Newt and Santorum could join forces, Romney would be clobbered in the primary, and I don't think Obama would stand a chance.
I just think we need Gingrich on top because let's face it, can you imagine what would happen if he debated Biden... Biden would get clobbered so badly that it would generate sympathy votes for Obama.
On a more serious note, Santorum doesn't have the experience, Gingrich does (I mean seriously getting a bunch of politicians to balance a checkbook, it's a miracle anyone managed to do it). It wouldn't surprise me if everything seemed disorganized because herding congressmen is like herding cats that want to go every direction but the one you want them to go.
Occam's Tool| 2.8.12 @ 6:02PM
Garfield, sir: Gingrich WAS campaigning in Minnesota, and he was well known to the political activists in the caucus. In my precinct in rural MN, the votes went 56 for Santorum and 2 for Gingrich.
Clint| 2.8.12 @ 7:52PM
Tool Job's The RINO-CINO, Who Already Said He'll Vote For The RION-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
mjs_pa| 2.8.12 @ 7:41PM
What Aaron...no whining about Santorum's whining?
PCP Smoker| 2.8.12 @ 8:55PM
An of course assholes like you will be smearing him with whatever shit Romney is throwing. This is how you start the article, "Rick Santorum has no more delegates this morning than he did 24 hours ago." What a fucking asshole. I'm sick of you spoon-feeding me Romney.