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Weekend Political Wrap-Up, Paul Ryan Edition
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The Spectacle Blog
1. If a governor’s endorsement was sufficient to guarantee victory in that state, Nikki Haley would have delivered the South Carolina primary to Mitt Romney. That said, Rick Santorum needed something to turn around his fortunes ahead of Tuesday’s contests. He could have used an endorsement from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer now that he is down by double digits in the state. Romney got Brewer’s endorsement instead. Just days ago a Santorum upset in Arizona seemed likely.
2. Santorum had an off night in the debate this week. But his line that he took one for the team when he voted for No Child Left Behind, an unconstitutional and unpopular federal power grab in education, will come back to haunt him. Part of Santorum’s appeal is that he puts principle above party or politics, and Romney was flailing around to find some sin against conservatism that Santorum committed of which he and his supporters were not themselves guilty. Santorum has handed team Romney a bludgeon with which to beat him. This is especially helpful because Romney can’t overtly run against Santorum on social issues.
3. What started as a one-off Washington Post report at the beginning of the month has become the conventional wisdom: Romney and Ron Paul are colluding. Jennifer Rubin argued Friday that there is no conspiracy; Paul just dislikes Santorum and Gingrich. Paul has denied any tactical alliance. But there’s a simpler explanation: there are states where Romney and Paul face a common foe (Gingrich in Iowa, Santorum in Michigan); there will be many caucus states, like Maine most recently, where Paul and Romney must go head-to-head.
4. Normally I would say that if Romney wins Arizona and Michigan Tuesday, he is well on his way to winning the nomination. But given the way the race has gone so far, I will not say that. And obviously there is no guarantee he will win Tuesday.
5. The public response to President Obama’s apology to Afghanistan after the Koran burnings was muted. Expect it to become a bigger political issue down the line.
6. Nevertheless, Republicans are going to have a tougher time running against Obama on foreign policy than they imagine. Most Americans wanted out of Iraq, want out of Afghanistan, and approve of the killing of bin Laden.
View all comments (30) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/02/26/weekend-political-wrap-up
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Bob Grant| 2.26.12 @ 4:10PM
My political analysis went like this:
Although Santorum had a less-than-solid debate on Wednesday, he helped himself during the talk show circuit today. He handled the non-stop picking away at his record by Stephie and David about as well as could be expected. It was very Newtonian the way he attacked the premise the questions while at the same time effectively getting his point across.
He interviews much better than Romney and comes in a close second behind Gingrich.
He sold me on supporting him in the primary because of his candidness in explaining his record and he seems the most trustworthy among the Non-Romney group.
I can't in good conscious support Romney in the primary. In the general, fine, but not the primary!
Mike| 2.26.12 @ 5:17PM
Whats, pray tell, did Santorum say that was reminiscent of Isaac Newton.
Bob, please explain this to me: How can you object to Romney so much, yet rank an unrepentant socialist like Gingrich #1. If anything, there are areas where Gingrich juts out to the left of Romney, especially fiscally. Plus, he has an only occasionally disguised contempt for conservatives, No doubt, if he ever gets in charge he will seek retribution for past grievances. Nevertheless, Gingrich and Romney are both awful candidates, and I probably couldn't vote for either of them.
Santorum seems like a nice guy, but he is far from what I would call a great candidate. In this case, however, he is the only candidate who is even in the same galaxy as conservatism. Unless a new candidate could swoop in, he is the only hope for conservatism to remain viable for the next four years. At the very least, I hope all the compromises he made on behalf of party help shield him from the undeserved accusations of being an extremist.
Bob Grant| 2.26.12 @ 6:18PM
Newtonian in the political sense, meaning Gingrich.
The ranking was the best interviewer, not the most conservative. I like Newt, he's a great debater and interviewer but don't trust him. His fingerprints are all over Freddie Mac; his space exploration idea is lunacy; he's a big government program guy just like the others; and...he kinda weird's me out. Oh , and did I tell you I don't trust him?
Your right, Santorum's not a great candidate but is underrated IMHO. He's an OK debater but excellent because, among other things, he's not afraid to speak his mind and tell the elite media stars to go pound sand.
I'm also confident if he can't win he'll at least go down guns-a-blazin'. Not nice-guy it all the way to November.
Unless a late comer appears, I'm going with him.
Bob Grant| 2.26.12 @ 6:20PM
correction:
"but excellent INTERVIEW because..."
Mark| 2.26.12 @ 6:56PM
Most of us think Romney is too far to the left. Gingrich, however, choose to attack him from the left. He cribbed anti-capitalist rhetoric directly from the pages of Mother Jones.
AVCurmudgeon| 2.26.12 @ 9:15PM
Agree generally, Mike.
Reid Smith| 2.26.12 @ 5:22PM
Most definitely on #6.
C Bowen | 2.26.12 @ 7:47PM
Really, Reid?
A far worse in context of storyline incident already happened on US soil, in Texas, and nothing happened.
Floyd Looney| 2.26.12 @ 5:52PM
"Americans wanted out of Iraq, want out of Afghanistan, and approve of the killing of bin Laden"
especially Republicans, whats the point??
Tom| 2.26.12 @ 6:17PM
It's going to be interesting to see how Romney deals with Dr. Nutjob after the March 6 primary in Virginia where they are the only two names on the ballot and losing to Der. Kult Fuhrer in a one on one match would be a huge embarressment for the Mittster.
Clint| 2.26.12 @ 6:51PM
The Chickenhawk RINO-CINO Mittens Romney Won't Be Able To Match Dr.Ron Paul's Military Service.
" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).
" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Bob Grant| 2.26.12 @ 7:41PM
I like to the the word "chickenhawk" 'cause it's rarely used.
AVCurmudgeon| 2.26.12 @ 9:11PM
It is rarely used because while it has the connotation of someone who advocates war while being sure to stay home, it is also a common term in the gay community referring to an older man attracted to young boys.
Bob Grant| 2.26.12 @ 9:42PM
In this case I was being sarcastic because Clint and his buddies use it in virtually every post.
I was not aware of the second meaning. This explains why Clint uses the word so often...he's projecting.
Clint| 2.27.12 @ 3:31AM
More Qweer Talk FromRINO-CINO Chickenhawk Lovin' Mitten's Kitten, Grant.
Dai Alanye | 2.27.12 @ 11:02AM
In Congress forever, yet RonPaul can't pass a bill to save his soul, nor has he any influence over fellow legislators. Just a time-serving draftee, full of hot air, all talk and no action beyond endless earmarks.
Of course, military service did get John Kerry the presidency, so maybe RonPaul can make it.
"I'm RonPaul, and I'm reporting for duty." Yeah, I can see it now.
Clint| 2.27.12 @ 2:04PM
"In 2005, 2007, 2009, and again in 2011, Dr.Ron Paul introduced the Sanctity of Life Act, which would have life defined as beginning at conception at the Federal level."
Ask Your RINO-CINO Girlfriends Why They Can't Get It Passed, Israel Firster Smear Bund Buffoon,Dai Job.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
C Bowen | 2.26.12 @ 6:17PM
"there will be many caucus states, like Maine most recently, where Paul and Romney must go head-to-head."
Santorum and Paul folks at the grassroots level have far more communication with each other then either camp has with local Romney folks.
Santorum doesn't really understand what is going on, or he took some bad advice.
C Bowen | 2.26.12 @ 6:18PM
Or Santorum is in a conspiracy with Romney to throw the nomination to Romney.
LibertyAtStake | 2.26.12 @ 6:50PM
Re: #6 ... Tying Mideast turmoil to rising gas prices and hanging it around Obama's neck like a millstone should be trivial for the establishment GOP. But, you are right that nothing seems trivial for the establishment GOP.
d(^_^)b
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
Ervin| 2.26.12 @ 8:43PM
Arizona was always Mitt's anyways. I never believed the polls that had Santorum close. Not a real good state for an outspoken social conservative.
With Michigan,I now think Mitt will also win. Saying that,Santorum will do well and collect his share of delagates. He is now on the ballot in Indiana. In addition,he has a 18 point lead here in Wisconsin.
AVCurmudgeon| 2.26.12 @ 9:10PM
Santorum runs as a candidate who puts principle above party or politics? Really? Sorry, but only on social conservative issues. Otherwise, he has been a line-toeing hack on all spending issues and every initiative to expand government in the GOP mode, including TARP and raising the debt ceiling. I'm willing to support him despite that because he is taking such a strong stand on social issues, but I'm not going to pretend that he is someone he is not and never has been.
Dai Alanye | 2.27.12 @ 11:20AM
These statements are not merely inaccurate or misleading but largely false. Other than that we're TOTALLY in agreement.
TARP has been a particular complaint of Santorum's, and he wasn't in office when it went through. As far as debt ceilings, refusing to vote for them is usually self-indulgent politicing, since failure to raise them can lead to default.
Social issues are only part of the reason to support Santorum.
JimH| 2.27.12 @ 8:00AM
Re: item 5, Maybe some PAC can produce an ad of Muslims dancing in the streets following 911 ,maybe along with shots of wounded service people, all with a Brenda Lee soundtrack. If anyone is owed an apology it is our troops.
Casey Abell| 2.27.12 @ 9:10AM
Michigan remains close. Romney has a small edge but a Santorum win is hardly impossible. AZ is an easy win for Romney. He's up double-digits in all the polls now.
As for Paul and Romney "colluding," it's just Spectator/Santorum (can hardly tell them apart any more) fantasy. No collusion is necessary to make Paul despise Santorum. The old coot can't abide Santorum's social-con views or his foreign policy.
Patrick| 2.27.12 @ 10:29AM
Santorum is the biggest fraud in the race. He got his political start working for a liberal,pro-choice senator,John Heinz. Then endorsed pro-choice seantor Arlen Specter twice,for president in 96 and reelection in 2004. Constantly lies about his "blue collar roots" when in fact his father was a therapist for the VA.
Dai Alanye | 2.27.12 @ 11:25AM
No doubt Romney is the blue-collar guy in the race. And I love his checked shirts. They go far toward proving he's a regular guy. Soon, I imagine, we can expect to see him splitting fencerails.
JimH| 2.27.12 @ 1:45PM
He should show up at a rally wearing a 'beater' unless Ricky does it first.