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Impeachment Talk is a Mistake
May 21, 2013 | 0 comments
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Open letter to Anré Dárel Washington
May 20, 2013 | 0 comments
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Laughing to Keep From Crying
May 17, 2013 | 1 comment
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I’m Melting, Melting!
May 16, 2013 | 5 comments
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Delaware’s Unclaimed Property Racket: John Gotti Would Be Proud
May 16, 2013 | 1 comment
The Spectacle Blog
UPDATE: In his heartfelt remarks, Rick Santorum said that “the American Dream is slipping through the hands of…Americans,” which was much of his motivation for entering the race. He said that the race “became less about my stories and more about your stories.” He added that while he is suspending his campaign, “we are not done fighting.”
Interestingly, he said that his decision was made over the weekend, which makes me believe that this decision was first and foremost about his daughter. And while he did not come out and say it, I believe that was his primary consideration. For that, Rick Santorum deserves high praise, and for not talking too much about his daughter, not really offering excuses or explanations for his decision, he deserves in higher praise.
It is no secret that I am not a big Rick Santorum fan, but the way he comported himself today has raised my view of the man substantially.
—————————-
My AmSpec colleague Jeff Lord just told me that he heard on Fox News that Rick Santorum is suspending his campaign for president.
Bloomberg is reporting the same here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-10/santorum-suspending-bid-for-republican-nomination-person-says.html
Yesterday I predicted that Santorum would drop out now, though I also suggested that his reason would be his daughter’s health. It will be interesting to see whether he does indeed include that in his explanation.
I applaud Santorum’s move, regardless of the reason, because I think it helps the chances of beating Barack Obama.
And I congratulate Santorum on a remarkable performance this primary season, perhaps with less funding than any other “serious” candidate, he was the last serious challenger to Mitt Romney.
I wish Santorum and his family, particularly his daughter Bella, well, and even though I don’t agree with Santorum on some issues, I hope he maintains a voice within the GOP. It truly is a big tent, despite Democrat claims that it’s just the party of rich old white guys.
Mimi| 4.10.12 @ 3:14PM
O.K. He should be the V.P. ....His numbers+Mitts =66a clear majority of the primary voters!
5
Drek| 4.10.12 @ 3:57PM
We need someone way more articulate than Santorum to be our veep.
Romney has to reach out to a real bona fide conservative, and we can do way better than Santorum!
Let Santorum recede to where he's some question in a game of Trivia Pursuit.
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:11AM
after the way he savaged Romney?
not gonna happen
Ryan| 4.10.12 @ 3:15PM
The math just won't work out for him.
Let the moderates have the Presidency. Conservatives should concentrate now on their senate and house elections, and force the next President to the right.
Drek| 4.10.12 @ 3:58PM
Exactly.
And we need to turn some serious heat towards our representatives and would be representatives.
They need to know there's no margin for error with us.
They need to know we want no part of any Andy Card crap!
Contact them all TODAY!
Let 'em eel some heat, let them KNOW your presence!
Shane| 4.10.12 @ 3:17PM
Amazing what he did without any $. Proud to have voted for him.
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:12AM
...not to mention, without any brains, either
Clint| 4.10.12 @ 3:21PM
While Obama Is A Taepster, Romney Is A Tarpster.
While Obama Orchestrated Obamacare, Romney Orchestrated Romneycare.
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:12AM
and Paul is in the Dumpster
Martin | 4.10.12 @ 3:26PM
Hasta la vista, loser. Entirely a product of those kooks in Iowa, who starved better candidates of oxygen.
Will Not Vote For Rmoney| 4.10.12 @ 3:38PM
Typical Mittbot blathering. No class whatsoever. Good luck winning in November without "the kooks" in Iowa & around the country.
Martin | 4.10.12 @ 3:57PM
Wrong, I'm a Paulbot and a Perrybot, but not a Mittbot
Teflon93| 4.10.12 @ 4:07PM
You mean Paul, who cut a deal to be Mittens' sidekick so his kid can have a better job?
Man of integrity, that one. I'll await his response as soon as Lew Rockwell writes it.
Clint| 4.10.12 @ 4:14PM
"Ron Paul: I won’t commit to backing Romney if he’s the nominee
“I’d talk to him and see what kind of a foreign policy he is going to have,” Paul, a congressman from Texas, told reporters at a rally two days before most of Missouri’s counties hold their Republican caucuses. “Mitt’s a friend and we talk a lot. We just disagree on the issues.”…
Occam's Tool| 4.10.12 @ 4:51PM
Aaaand, now you know why I wouldn't support Paul if he had won. What's good for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Too bad about Rick, and my prayers for Bella.
Occam's Tool| 4.10.12 @ 4:55PM
To be very precise: I helped choose our county's delegates to the State Convention, where I voted for Santorum. I contributed to Santorum, and I was ready to precinct Captain for the man.
I shall now do the same for Mitt Romney; Obama is a punk.
Clint| 4.10.12 @ 5:17PM
You Phoney Little Runt.
Tool Job's The Screwball RINO-CINO Bibi Boy,Who Said He Would Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney,Back In June.
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.....
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:15AM
I’d talk to him and see what kind of a foreign policy he is going to have,”
-------------------------------------
i'm pretty sure his foreign policy WON'T have the backing of Dennis Kucinich, Jane Fonda, and Code Pink..unlike that of the Tinfoil Hat Tinhorn, DrRonEarmark
9thID| 4.10.12 @ 5:53PM
Robespierre Ron is an anti-constitutional Voluntaryist and a traitor to his oaths...
http://mises.org/Community/for.....31256.aspx
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:13AM
don't worry, once the bars close, you can sober up and join the rest of the world
RJ| 4.10.12 @ 3:29PM
Santorum gained my respect and admiration during this campaign. With Romney headed for the nomination, it is time to focus on the race against Obama as well as supporting conservative candidates for Senate and the House to be sure that we enact a reform-oriented agenda based on the principles of honest, legal, effective and limited government.
Teflon93| 4.10.12 @ 3:40PM
And with that I'll be registering as an "independent" and ending my life-long affiliation with the Republican Party.
Enjoy watching your liberal nominee get whipped, RINOs.
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 3:50PM
Tef, check this out, it will cheer you up a bit.
http://www.breitbart.com/Breit.....-of-Brazil
Teflon93| 4.10.12 @ 3:53PM
Thanks, Simon---I'm cheery as can be; cannot wait for the Tea Party to send the GOP the way of the Whigs.
We need a conservative party. Thankfully, we have one and it is rising.
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 4:03PM
You are correct, sir. It is time for the Tea Party to step forward and take the next steps.
Skippy| 4.10.12 @ 6:41PM
"Thanks for the re-election!
Enjoy your idealogical purity!
I'll be f*cking the country."
BHO
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:15AM
ObaMao thanks you for your support, dullard
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 3:40PM
"It truly is a big tent, despite Democrat claims that it's just the party of rich old white guys."
Your last paragraph and this sentence in particular has to be the one of the most insincere, ridiculous, and inaccurate statements I have ever read.
Yeah, it is a big tent controlled by RINO's and progressive Republicans that every election season, whether by hook, crook, or just plain money, make DAMN sure that a conservative does NOT get nominated.
You did everything you could to make sure he and others like them did not succeed. So, at least have the honesty to admit it; you have succeeded in keeping the "religious nut", St. Nick, the social conservative clinging to his bible and gun, and religion as far away as possible from the public sector of life. Congratulate yourself.
As far as helping Romney, you and the sycophants have never made that case or have even come close to proving that or the electability of Romney.
Now, what will be interesting is just how Romney and the GOP establishment will set out to actually win this election and how you and that establishment will now deal with the hurricane of MSM smear that is assuredly coming now that they have a clear target.
Of course, we will now see just how conservative Romney has said he is...
I am taking bets that you will not fight as hard as you and the GOP establishment did against its own than you will against the Democrat Socialist.
I say you fold and snatch defeat by the time the convention starts...
Ross Kaminsky | 4.10.12 @ 3:52PM
You are a good example of why Republicans have such a hard time winning.
As for bets on how hard I fight to beat Obama, that's very hard to measure, but I'm in.
I repeat, for the record, my motivation here is not to elect a Republican or to elect Mitt Romney but to unelect Barack Obama. (And also to try to help the GOP keep the House and take the Senate.)
Teflon93| 4.10.12 @ 3:56PM
Yeah, except you made it pretty clear where you stood on Santorum. You're full of it, Kaminsky---and nothing but a typical apparatchik.
You're a great example of why the RINO candidate can't win the general. Who in the conservative base accepts you as one of us?
DRed| 4.10.12 @ 4:08PM
Ross is a libertarian, not a conservative, so I don't know that he cares that the conservative base thinks he's one of them. Now, I'm not sure why a libertarian would think either Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney would be more appealing than Obama, but I'm sure Ross can tell you.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.10.12 @ 4:14PM
You're right on everything in your first sentence.
As for your second sentence, do you really not understand why a libertarian would prefer Romney to Obama?
DRed| 4.10.12 @ 4:33PM
Yeah, I really don't. Santorum was a corrupt congressman who has been earning a living since he left office as part of the machine that corrupts congress. Santorum has gone on the record with his opposition to libertarianism. And Mitt-well who the hell knows what he thinks. He seems to have a very strong belief that he should be president and everything else is negotiable. From a libertarian perspective, he certainly could be better than Obama, but I don't see anything in his career that would make me confident that he would be.
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 4:33PM
Well, because he can have a great influence in promoting libertarianism and undermining conservatives posing as a conservative on a conservative web magazine.
He does not think Santorum is better, he would prefer Obama. Romney is acceptable because is not a conservative and would do less damage than Obama in terms of economic and commercial interest and issues.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.10.12 @ 4:13PM
So, you're saying that I'm full of it because I was totally clear and up-front about my views on Santorum?
If you're going to slam me, at least do it with something that can stand up to first-grade logic.
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 4:28PM
The bigger question is why you write for a conservative web magazine and why you are a registered republican? Even DRed can figure that out.
There are plenty of other sites where I am sure you would fit right in, try Reason magazine.
Ross, no, you are the reason we lose and will continue to lose as conservatives and you know that, that is why you are out here under the pretense of being a conservative when you are not. If it were not for Tef and others outing you, no one would ever know.
I suggest you put a disclaimer and identification of your political drift under you name.
Yes, you made your views on Santorum and others very clearly throughout this primary. That we know, but your view that his voice should be heard but not really listened to or has any place in public life and office is clear as well.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.10.12 @ 5:27PM
Is there any regular reader of these pages who doesn't know I'm a libertarian? And is there any regular reader of these pages who doesn't know how much I disdain Barack Obama and how much I want to beat him?
I think Santorum has some valuable things to say. But I do not like his insinuations that government has a bigger role in our private lives. It's pretty simple. There are other areas where I disagree with him, but this is water under the bridge.
I am a registered Republican because (1) Libertarians can't win anything important, and (2) I am not for open borders or a weak national defense.
Occam's Tool| 4.10.12 @ 4:52PM
Obama is a nightmare. I'm behind Mitt; not least of all to piss off Clint and Jack. What Clint and Jack don't want is what's best for America; these two pinheads think 4 more years of Obama is acceptable.
Clint| 4.10.12 @ 5:18PM
You Phoney Little Runt.
Tool Job's The Screwball RINO-CINO Bibi Boy,Who Said He Would Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney,Back In June.
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.....
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:18AM
awwwwww.....is poor widdle cwint still aww sad and cwying because hims widdle WonPauw couldn't bweak out of the single digits???? poor oogums...have some more cheetos..mommy tossed a fwesh bag down the basement steps
9thID| 4.10.12 @ 6:03PM
I was convinced that Santorum was despised by Kaminsky because he is a Libertarian atheist, and Santorum actually had moral & religious convictions...
ncatty| 4.10.12 @ 3:49PM
Rich old white guys need a political party too.
Molly| 4.10.12 @ 3:52PM
I knew it was coming, but it still sickens me. The nominee has run his campaign as any good liberal does - simply destroy the other candidates personally. I believe that is how Obama has won every election. Well, usually he just gets them thrown off the ballot, but same thing. I just have one question for the Republicans - Why doesn't Romney do many one on one interviews like the other candidates did? They put themselves out there and it made them more vulnerable to attacks, which I expected from the left - not the so called "right". I am so frustrated that elections seem to be driven by negative attacks and have nothing to do with policies. So congratulations Mitt - you won with your negative attack bombs, but it won't win you the election because Obama is much better at that game.....
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 4:06PM
Excellent point Molly, Obama is better at this game and Romney better come up with a strategy better than the one he used against the others in his own party.
RJ| 4.10.12 @ 9:08PM
Good points, but one thing should be different in this race. Romney can run his race, but others, through super pacs will be able to run campaigns against Obama. It looks like there are many people and organizations that are ready to take on Obama during the election season, even if Romney doesn't. It should help remind people of Obama's dismal performance in the White House.
Drek| 4.10.12 @ 3:53PM
Although Conservatives didn't accomplish everything they desired, ------------------------ let's not be blind to what we managed to achieve.
Romney was placed on the ropes, and the nomination wasn't just handed to him.
Romney, AND HIS SUPPORTERS TOO, now know there won't be any trust extended to him as it was foolishly extended to the Bush administration.
Romney has no margins for error with us, he'll get no benefit of any doubt from any of us.
We now know that it's important to make sure our Congressional reps do what we want them to do, and not that which the Romney administration might want them to do.
When the new Roves come to Republicans looking to twist arms they're going to be aware that there is a conservative firestorm just waiting to be ignited.
Which means in a city where personnel is policy, we're going to be watching Romney like a hawk, especially his appointments.
Coulter has been exposed for all in our party to see, and her reputation has been shattered.
Christie too has been exposed, and despite his youtube video moments, the party now knows he's not the conservative he has been touted to be.
This is but a cursory overview of course.
But the Republican leadership KNOWS full well that there IS a conservative rank and file, and they know full well none of us wanted Romney. This is important.
Which means that the way we fought, the way we made sure the leadership was aware of who we are and what we want, we've made sure that we're not likely to see some idiot administration try to ram down our throats some brain dead DUBAI PORTS DEAL!
Teflon93| 4.10.12 @ 3:58PM
Fine, Drek, but perhaps you can explain to us how conservative Tea Partiers rallying to give the GOP a greater gain in the House than in the 1994 elections resulted in a liberal at the top of the ticket?
For extra points, how is that a conservative "victory"?
Drek| 4.10.12 @ 4:30PM
I can answer that question in a single word: fear.
The leadership is frightened yet that a robust conservative theme will not resonate with the electorate.
We need to disabuse them of their folly, and we need to make sure that we are watching them like a hawk, and that they won't be able to get away with all the utter idiocy that GW was allowed to get away with.
This battle that we're in to overturn that attitude that prevails at the top of our party isn't going to be won in a day, nor a single campaign. It outlasted the victories of the Reagan administration.
I can't pretend that Romney is one of us.
But I can say that all of us together can make sure that a Romney administration doesn't go down like a Bush administration.
Let's learn the lessons taught us the hard way by the whole damn Bush team.
And let's make it clear to Romney that he has no margin for error with any of us.
Isn't that something of a "victory?"
Simon Templar| 4.10.12 @ 4:16PM
Drek, you make some good points and I think you are trying to be positive about all of this..
I believe, however, that this is being perceived as a victory for moderates and the progressive Republican establishment in putting the conservatives, the base, and the Tea party in its place of subservience and irrelevancy.
Rove and the gang are slapping each other on the back.
Now , the consequences of all of this are about to be manifested in the coming month. You can bet the Dems will not waste a single second.
If you sincerely think conservative voices have been sounded and heard, the next two months will prove that one way or another in the rhetoric Romney will use going forward, expect a McCain.
Drek| 4.10.12 @ 4:38PM
Simon,
think of it this way: Didn't you put the fear of God in Coulter? Didn't you get Coulter out there, on television, raving in a panic about the very strong likelihood that Romney would lose?
Or to put it another way, Rinos, Rockefeller Republicans and Romney himself underwent a near death experience.
The memory of which the rest of can use to hopefully great effect in a Romney first term.
We had him on the ropes, and that's no hyperbole, no exaggeration.
John - TMF| 4.10.12 @ 4:00PM
Rick Santorum is a wonderful, honorable man. He leaves the campaign with his head up to tend to his family. He ran an amazing campaign. I regret not having the opportunity to vote FOR him.
There is no registration by party in Virginia. Looks like there is no one to vote for on the presidential ballot this November.
I will vote for Fimian for Congress, and Allen for Senate - whatever conservative issues are on the ballot, and hope that the roof doesn't cave in over the next decade.
The Whig Party disintegrated over the issue of chattel slavery. The Establishment GOP is on the Democrat chattel cart. It just promises better management and better hair care products. The GOP looks like it is going to go the way of its parent political party, over much the same issue.
It is truly going to be ugly over then next few years.
The Pledge:
Willard Milton Romney is a Limousine Liberal Democrat masquerading as a Republican; therefore I WILL NOT vote for him, EVER!
-John - The Mighty Fahvaag
Skippy| 4.10.12 @ 6:45PM
"Thanks for the re-election!
Enjoy your idealogical purity!
I'll be f*cking the country."
BHO
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:20AM
ObaMao thanks you for your support, you dullard...now, how about you do your part to make Virginia a better place and carry your dumb @$$ up to MD? you'll raise the average IQ in BOTH states by leaving here
Bill| 4.10.12 @ 4:02PM
God bless Santorum. He waged a spirited campaign for liberty and the limited government.
Derek Leaberry| 4.10.12 @ 6:24PM
Given he lost his last Senate re-election race by 17 points, Rick Santorum always was an implausible candidate for nomination. But no plausible conservative ran so Santorum was candidate by default. Yet Santorum fought the good fight and only Mitt Romney's enormous resources crushed Santorum. He was heroic, at least for a politician. Had Santorum won Michigan, this would have been a race to the close.
Romney gets to coast from here on out. Gradually, he will turn his back on conservatives because he is not a conservative. Does anyone think that all of a sudden, at age 60, Romney changed his mind on abortion? Those who think so probably believe in the Easter Bunny. Romney's devious political character does not stop with abortion. He has ran as a self-described "progressive." He has spoken ill of Ronald Reagan's legacy. He has run as a candidate pledged to a radical homosexual "rights" agenda and he smoothed the way for homosexual "marriage" as governor. He appointed left-wing judges as governor. With the aid of his friend Ted Kennedy, he rammed down the precursor to Obamacare in Massachusetts.
Mitt Romney is no friend of conservatives. He needs to be defeated in November so that the ensuing national collapse happens on Obama's watch. Think about 1932 as your guide.
Skippy| 4.10.12 @ 6:46PM
"Thanks for the re-election!
Enjoy your idealogical purity!
I'll be f*cking the country."
BHO
RJ| 4.10.12 @ 9:13PM
I don't know of anyone winning by losing. America as a republic of a free society cannot take 4 more years of Obama and his agenda. We lose this time and its is over.
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:21AM
ObaMao thanks you for your support, moron
Mimi| 4.10.12 @ 8:28PM
I can't help it...I'm sick....SICK ! Now Levin's telling us to go Romney...That thought makes me SICKER...just the mere thought of that Conservative destroyer with a bank-roll winning this thing is making me even SICKER...I'm gonna see how it goes... what Mitt does...and SAY'S after a couple of days...he better throw out more than a couple of bones our way!
By the way...WHERE the heck is NEWT ????? He'd darn well better get on a big WHITE horse and get GOING...or give us a darn good reason he didn't get out weeks ago to help Santorum! We had a 60% advantage...together...this loss should never happened to the Conservative wing. The Rove wing won on CASH. That why they say...
" CASH ISN'T KING....IT'S EVERYTHING" !!!
Will Not Vote For Rmoney| 4.10.12 @ 8:44PM
Mimi, do yourself a favor & put your faith in God to make the necessary changes needed to turn America around. The Stupid Party only understand pulling defeat from the jaws of victory. Rmoney will be trounced by BHO in November & the "Establishment" of The Stupid Party will have no one to blame but themselves.
spike59| 4.11.12 @ 7:23AM
mimi...at some point you REALLY need to put your ideological purity test on hold and try math and logic:
math-there is no way on God's green earth that anyone can derail Romney at this point
logic-do you REALLY want 4 more years of ObaMao?
Marco2| 4.10.12 @ 11:42PM
As I read these comments it appears that some of you actually think that Santorum or Gingrich or any of the other poseurs could have won a general election (if they had somehow snagged the nomination). The only candidate who could organize a national campaign, raise money, attract endorsements, and appeared to have a chance in the fall was Romney, so he got the most votes and won. Exactly what is the big surprise?