South Carolina Returns (Open Thread)

Exit polling showing more men than women voting (favor, Newt), more Tea Party/Evangelicals voting (favor, Newt), most important factor, beating Obama (favor, Romney? but maybe not), most significant issue, economy (favor, ??).  CNN keeps hinting they will project as soon as the polls close. 

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is lowering
expectations ahead of tonight’s primary in South Carolina, saying they
expect former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to pull off a victory.

“I think we’re going to lose tonight,” a senior Romney aide on Saturday told BuzzFeed. “We could lose big.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/21/romney-campaign-%e2%80%98we-could-lose-big%e2%80%99-tonight/#ixzz1k8hwHbS3

Fox calls SC for Newt

Fox calls SC for Newt

then it must be a wash out

Pathetic statement of ”conservative” values that South Carolina voters opt for a serial adulterer and ethics-challenged politician as best representing their views.  Incredible.

JoePaterno near death:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/01/legendary_football_coach_joe_p.html

From Politico on whether Marianne Gingrich’s interview changed their minds.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said their vote won’t change as a
result of the interview, compared with 25 percent who said they’re less
likely to vote for the former House speaker and 14 percent who said
they’re more likely to vote for him.

The responses were similar between men and women. Younger voters were
more likely to be affected by the interview: 34 percent of respondents
aged 18-24 and 31 percent of those aged 25-34 said they were less likely
to vote for Gingrich, compared with 19 percent of thos in the 35-49 age
group who said the same.

The demographics are quite telling.

that’s not as low as the Democratic Party went in 2008

Good.  Unlikely that he’d get jail time soon enough so I hope he meets a drawn out, painful death.  No mercy for him and Sandusky.  May they both rot in hell. 

It’s called DESPERATION

Initial thoughts…

The media wants this contest to be drawn out and contentious. They said as much on Fox. Ed Rollins said the GOP is a party of the South. I guess the rest of us know what that means. Mark Sanford giving Gingrich a ringing endorsement. Not exactly the kind of character reference I would choose.

More like a pig stye

Romney’s interview on FOX tomorrow should give an indication of how much he wants this nomination. I expect Wallace to go after him. If Romney is steady, forthcoming and forceful defending himself it just might tip the balance of things in his favor.

He needs to go after Gingrich but first he needs to address the questions people have concerning his business practices and his taxes.

Dear Tea Party:

Christine O’Donnell and Sharon Angle, please remember.

ABO.

ABO.

That’s not fair as to Paterno.

That’s not fair as to Paterno.

i wonder if the numbers include the mail-in ballots?

i think 2/3 of the voters identified themselves as evangelicals and tea partiers.  unbelievable that they would go for newt.

seriously if the REP voters want Newt to represent them, good riddance.  congratulations, President Obama.   3d party is looking more and more attractive.

Remember, the “Tea Party” as a cohesive entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the GOP is dead, especially as far as the GOP itself is concerned.

To them, they served their purpose.  Time to scale back the gravy train.

But the REAL heart of the original “Tea Party”, still beats strong in the hearts of the “Tea Party” voter.

They don’t want to be TOLD that Romney is their nominee, particularly by the larger party and the media.

I never agree with the conservative “TP” faction.

But I will give them this.  Their votes for Gingrich are principled votes.

They are demanding to be heard.

I don’t blame them, even though they could be seen as weakening the larger battle against Barky, by not supporting Romney.

They’re not going to just roll over and obey calls to support a candidate they fundamentally trust.

I can relate to their motivations.

Just as Newt came forward so far on the messes they have dug up on him and his past..Romney needed to come forward…

Many of us did not like the way Obama was hiding stuff…So Romney’s hiding of stuff could be part of or most of the reason behind the turn in events.

I can hardly wait to see how big Newt`s head has grown in just a few hours.

he hid nothing.  i cannot believe the theme that has taken hold. 

the only thing he hasn’t produced are his tax returns.  Newt only produced one year this past Thursday.  The others haven’t produced them yet.  he said he will produce them in April.

Apparently, Newt’s tax returns show that he’s sheltered a bunch of money in his “foundation.” 

Like I said…. evangelicals will not vote for Mormons and Romney is not a conservative. Romney is going to have a real problem with many of the Southern states…. Florida is the only one he will not have much problem with. That state is too infected by snow birds…. Lets see if Jeb jumps in on Romney’s side????

The rest? All up in the air….

i accept your analysis of the tea party voters.  i just cannot see how anyone can see newt as anything but a pompous blowhard. 

the exit polls seem to show that.

Taxes and his reply on the Cayman Island money has not helped him.  He should have produced at least past tax records. However with all his money he could gotten a current return for 2011 produced.

I know many feel that since Obama didnt produce lots of records why should Romney? However that is the problem.  Many did not like Obama’s 2008 playbook, but it was and is getting to look like Romney was using it including the kid glove media handling of him.

Hey I’m voting for whomever runs against Obama, whether it be Romney, Newt, Goofy or the man in the moon.

I absolutely HATE it that the fucker won……

i guess their heads will explode when they have to choose between the mormon and obama.

only thing left to do is to hope the giants win tomorrow.  go big blue.

It’ll be at least the size of Manzilla’s ass…

Just heard off the record that Jeb is going to endorse Mitt in the next few days

He did send him a cake, thought…

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/01/21/photos-newt-gingrichs-15th-anniversary-cake-from-mitt-romney/

I often think of this – I tried to “like” your comment – but, then again, knowing history like I do, I do not identify as a ‘tea partier.’

he is right to produce them all at once so they can pick them apart all they want, only once.  that said, he obviously doesn’t want to release them and his flub was trying to joke about whether he would follow his father’s example and release them all.  apparently, when he ran in MA, the DEMS demanded that he release them but his response was to say that he would release his as soon as Ted Kennedy released his own.  Ted didn’t release; so Mitt didn’t either. 

as far as the Cayman Islands, his campaign issued a statement that there was no tax advantage from the Cayman Islands accounts and that they paid all taxes on it. 

the head of the Southern Baptist convention said on one of the stations today that evangelicals don’t have problems with mormons and that mitt’s problem is that he’s not been mormon enough with respect to gay marriage and abortion.

I’m paraphrasing Romney here…

When a candidate attacks me for being successful and prosperous he isn’t just attacking me, he is attacking you.

Wish I could remember the exact quote. I thought it was awesome.

Much to my surprise I found myself clapping during Paul’s speech. I actually agree with him on many fronts.

Yeah Giants….

http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/n/new_england_patriots_mascot-9201.gif

***as far as the Cayman Islands, his campaign issued a statement that there was no tax advantage from the Cayman Islands accounts and that they paid all taxes on it.***

I’m not saying how I believe the statement, but I think the voters probably wanted to see something tangible……

Right now I think the choice we have stinks…But oh well if it gets Obama out of the WH then I will vote for whomever comes out on top of the GOP pile.

With all due respect, it’s going to be the 9ers. The only Giants who are winners in the bay area are the SF Giants! GO RED & GOLD!

I don’t know, but think it may be, because they perceive Gingrich’s gutter style a more effective foil for Barky’s, in debate.

They see him as a “flip-flopper”, and too “nice-seeming”, in a fake way.

Unworthy to stand up to evil.

Those are the ostensible reasons, anyway.

I personally think they could be convinced to support Romney more readily, than pro-business Americans of all political stripes could be convinced to support Gingrich.

Romney could be promoted as a unity candidate who can get the numbers to trounce Barky, when Gingrich’s bombast begins to get on his supporters’ nerves.

That might well be the best formula for Romney supporters to pursue.

I have witnessed many times over the years, people who support Gingrich in principle, lose patience over his reckless tactics and unpredictable nature.

I noted that too.  Good speech.

The GOP Florida Primary:  Swimsuit Edition will be posted by morning.  (can’t believe it took this to get me out of hibernation…)

Fla’s lucky, out here in Arizona, we’re infected by shitbirds, illegal Mexicans, and Obots ..

The results were just about what I expected, with one exception.

Santorum performed far more poorly than I expected him to.

The only thing I can figure out is anti-Catholic bias from evangelicals, that might not have emerged in Iowa.

Oh, I am also sure Palin’s endorsement of Gingrich had something of an effect.  It may have pushed some voters off the fence.

Tell that to the locals….

Trust me many, many every day evangelicals have problems with the Mormons. If it is not religious, its about proselytizing their Churches….

But Mitt has never been a conservative, so it no surprise… Noot…on the other hand?  Pray he does not get the nomination…..

That could be both a winner and a killer… Win Florida to lose the rest. Folk are tired of Bush’s…. Like I said before. If Jeb was the Governor of Florida with the last name of Smith and/or Jones he would be a winner for a running mate. But with the last name of Bush?

BUZZZ WRONG ANSWER!

I wouldn`t blame that poor dog if he commited suicide.

what’s scary is that although tea partiers probably hated Sen Reid more than anyone other than Obama and Pelosi, they threw that election away.  There were several REPS who could have easily beaten Reid but they went with Angle. 

is that a patriot?  see you in the super bowl (i hope).

Anti-Mormonism was a factor. But class just as important, if not more
so.. But clearly the largest was the debates and concerns about
electability. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/did-romneys-mormonism-doom-him-in-south-carolina-2012-1#ixzz1k9GO85xp

That makes sense… because we now know what Evangelicals value…

I did too… as well as Santorum’s.  I can’t stomach to listen to the little pudgy pink man. 

LMAO.

So, if Romney would manage to pull it through… then we can all prove South Carolina wrong… they say they always voted for the winner.  That would please me more than anything.

Some recycled old comedy for the evening:

Al Gore is out jogging one morning, notices a little boy on the corner with a box. Curious, he runs over to the child and says, “What’s in the box, kid?” The little boy says, “Kittens, they’re brand new kittens.” Al Gore laughs and says, “What kind of kittens are they?” “Democrats,” the child says. “Oh, that’s cute,” Al Gore says and he runs off. A couple of days later, Al Gore is running with his… buddy Bill Clinton and he spies the same boy with his box just ahead. Al says to Bill, “You gotta check this out,” and they both jog over to the boy with the box. Al says, “Look in the box Bill, isn’t that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey, kid, tell my friend Bill what kind of kittens they are.” The boy replies, “They’re Republicans.”"Whoa!” Al says, “I came by here the other day and you said they were Democrats. What’s up?” “Well,” the kid says, “Their eyes are open now!”
Al Gore is out jogging one morning, notices a little boy on the corner with a box. Curious, he runs over to the child and says, “What’s in the box, kid?” The little boy says, “Kittens, they’re brand new kittens.” Al Gore laughs and says, “What kind of kittens are they?” “Democrats,” the child says. “Oh, that’s cute,” Al Gore says and he runs off. A couple of days later, Al Gore is running with his… buddy Bill Clinton and he spies the same boy with his box just ahead. Al says to Bill, “You gotta check this out,” and they both jog over to the boy with the box. Al says, “Look in the box Bill, isn’t that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey, kid, tell my friend Bill what kind of kittens they are.” The boy replies, “They’re Republicans.”"Whoa!” Al says, “I came by here the other day and you said they were Democrats. What’s up?” “Well,” the kid says, “Their eyes are open now!”

Anti Catholic bias? You are hilarious. Palin is the real deal and she is the only reason McCain fared as well as he did. McCain actually passed Obama after picking Palin… which prompted the need for the “crisis” just to get the spotlight off her and to rekindle the anti-Bush message that Obama sorely needed to win. We will see what the crisis machine has in store for us in 2012… in the meantime the Tea Party is far from dead because some people are still not ready to roll over and let the media select for them. By the way… people can be conservative without being biased and bigoted racists and or hicks. No matter what the media says… the media doesn’t represent Americans any more than our government does right now. I could give a rat’s ass if democrats are happy with Newt winning South Carolina. I am glad that Romney gets the message loud and clear… most of the USA doesn’t want the governor of Massachusetts being President… if he can morph out of that role fine… if not he is in for a rude awakening because Iowa and New Hampshire don’t represent most of the USA either.

“Stand up to evil”… that is maybe the most insightful thing you have said here Scotty… seriously.

her endorsment of gingrich has totally soured me of her.  It’s just as bad as Hillarys endorsment of obama.  Palin is an idiot

Evangelicals, born again christians, the bane of USA.  I hate you all you are just a bunch of male domintaed born again hypocrates.  Your just as bad as Muslim terroists

Maybe letting he who is without sin casting the first stone… maybe that.

Pretty much what I am thinking. From day one Romney was the crown Prince of the GOP. This vote in SC is a big FU to the GOP and to the Medias. The real TPers are done with being told who to vote for and being told to moderate their positions. Gingrich is not Romney and is not afraid to tell the press to F Off. Hence his appeal.

I do not like Gingrich, but I know that he will wipe the floor clean with Obama in debates.

What he will do then as a President… Scary and impredictable.

according to erik ericson, No candidate has won the GOP nomination for President without winning South Carolina since Ronald Reagan in 1980. But every one of those candidates who won had also won either Iowa or New Hampshire.

No we aren’t lucky in Florida. The illegal Mexicans better drivers than the New Yorkers… and they don’t drive with the middle finger hanging out the window.

Oh Yes it is. He turned a blind eye for year to unspeakable evil for the sake of his career. No successes can excuse his behavior. Rot in hell is the proper venue.

Oh Yes it is. He turned a blind eye for year to unspeakable evil for the sake of his career. No successes can excuse his behavior. Rot in hell is the proper venue.

Journalism died in 2008, and the press power died in SC. Good ridance!

Journalism died in 2008, and the press power died in SC. Good ridance!

I agree with you. I do not have a problem with the Mormon faith but I have seen them in action. I spent the last winter in Mexico and I lived across the largest, most magnificient, secured building in town: The local church of Later days saints. One of the friend I made there explained to me how they went after his wife, converted her, split their marriage, went after his children, relentlesly. She now is completely separated from her former life, totally reliant on the church for all her supports including financial (she works for one of their “associations”). Made me though twice about the whole “tolerance” thing….

it looks as if newt carried most counties in SC.  i wonder how much perry’s withdrawal helped that?

No Palin is actually one of the best political animal of her generation. She “feels” the political wind better than anyone. She picked on the No-Romney and knew it was strenghful enough to sent a big FU to the GOP. She is not endorsing any one yet because she also knows that Gingrich can self-destruct on demand.

Doc, I wasn’t inferring that Palin was fomenting anti-Catholic bias in SC.

Palin is the “real deal”, if we want citizens with dual loyalties, governing our affairs. I’ll pass on that.

McCain is history, then and now…the fix was in, I was foolish to have failed to have seen it, and, if I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t have voted for him. I would have followed my first instincts, and stayed home.

Okay?

“….in the meantime the Tea Party is far from dead because some people are still not ready to roll over and let the media select for them…”

Doc, you didn’t read my earlier post.

I said, the “Tea Party”, as a coopted subsidiary of the Republican Party, is DEAD, dead as a doornail.

Look at the players and pundits, look at their Internet presence, look at their diminishing influence, in the primaries and the resulting media coverage.

That phase, the subsidized part of it that manifested itself so effectively in 2010, is finished.

That’s what I’ve been pointing out, all along.

But the “Tea Partiers” should not be written off.

They still believe, as they believed before. They still have the same principles, the same concerns.

Media interest in them has waned (surprise!) because the same interests that supported the TP’s earlier ascendancy have pulled back on the flow of money the government/media complex requires, to make movements and imaginations happen.

This is life.

Meanwhile, the “Tea Party” voters recognize that, on some level, the GOP takes them for granted and, has forsaken them. Hillary supporters recognize that slap in the face, from when it was our turn, from our own partisan masters.

The “TPers” realize, with clarity, that a political candidate with no demonstrated consciousness of their own concerns, is being foisted on them.

He represents, to them, much of what they have come to despise about the GOP. And, they are beginning to be asked to support him. And contribute to his campaign.

So, along comes a primary, where there is a large proportion of “Tea Party” loyalists and sympathizers, they exercise the only political voice they truly own, their vote, and they vote for Gingrich.

And everyone’s surprised by this. Why?

The “TPers” realize they’ve been fundamentally shunted to the side, if not yet kicked to the curb.

Their concerns are not being addressed. Oh, their symbols are being individually held up as paragons and feted, as part of the party image. Each candidate can stand up and recite values and platforms as platitudes, but, still, nothing concrete is being bandied about.

They’re being BLAMED for not following directions, LOL!

I’m not worried. The Chicago cabals can dust off their “teabagger” files and go to work immediately if they choose, but their claims will not resonate because they fundamentally don’t understand the movement to begin with, much the same way garden variety GOP loyalists cannot comprehend OWS.

Yes, Doc, the “Tea Party” folks will continue as a force in American politics, but they must build up their own infrastructure, learn to address individual issues and accept factionalism within as a natural occurrence and embrace it, without battling themselves.

They have to reinvent themselves, and find a new banner, or they’ll be coopted by big-party political machines every time.

“I am glad that Romney gets the message loud and clear… most of the USA doesn’t want the governor of Massachusetts being President… if he can morph out of that role fine… if not he is in for a rude awakening because Iowa and New Hampshire don’t represent most of the USA either…”

Doc?  I totally hear you.

Here’s the problem.  Perry flamed out.  Cain is history.  Bachmann never really caught fire.

The heartland voters had three candidates, three opportunities to coalesce behind one.

It did not work out that way, for a host of reasons that have nothing to do with bad luck, media conspiracies, and anti-flyover biases (which I admit to).

If you look at how Romney’s campaign has worked to manage his message, they are going on the assumption that wanting to beat Obama, crafting an anti-socialist message, and punctuating every speech with the word “freedom” would be enough to suck you in.

If not, they’re banking on enough former GWB supporters to fill the void (just WATCH the Bush Family come out, full force, for Mitt in the coming weeks) and transition the message, back to terror, terror, terror.

And MORE filthy ragheads, at eleven!!

At that point, they’re counting on your eleventh-hour hallelujah moment, to stop being an anarchist, and join their ranks.

That’s the left/right paradigm, in full effect.

And you’ll go along with it.  I did, last time.

She is dead to me now.

I fell asleep about when Gov. Palin was briefly on Fox news and got (once again) rudely cut of mid-sentence.  Fox is making a rather obvious habit of this.  Did they ever go back to her?  Is this what she’s down to, shown but not heard or listened to?  If so, she should take a break.  Her endorsement of Newt justifies dismissal.

“…as far as the Cayman Islands, his campaign issued a statement that there was no tax advantage from the Cayman Islands accounts and that they paid all taxes on it…
His campaign is willing to insult the voters, then.

The candidate in question is a firm believer in “King Dollar”.

What reason would he have, then, for shipping his money there?

The Caymans exist precisely as that haven for tax managers.

That would be like me saying I’m going to Switzerland because I like the chocolate!

The parties co-opt everybody… then they go out and do business as usual… you are right in that many people don’t understand the whole TEA party sentiment. The media can say it is about anti-government or about race… they can say whatever… they are the media… so they just make the stuff up as they go…but regular working people are not represented by government right now… represented by statute… yes. Does government serve them? No… and nobody in Washington cares right now. Regular working Americans do not have a voice and they do not have effective representation. I think Palin is perfect to direct this TEA party sentiment and help direct it for real change. Sure Romney will be much more effective a leader and he knows more about business than Obama… but Romney doesn’t represent regular America either… it is awkward watching him try.

Newt won every group.

South Carolina Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted

http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/states/south-carolina/exit-polls

It wouldn’t surprise me if he has, already, and
Frau Barky took a cue from the North Koreans and imported several “doggie doubles”.

yes, they went back to her.  but i didn’t listen. 

Hey!  I was in a RUSH!  LOL….

Isn’t that a little harsh?

Thank you. In this case lol isn’t just a cute phrase. I really got a kick out of this. Thanks!

I actually like both teams. Since I live in neither area I just look forward to a great game. They both have awesome defenses.

3d party is looking more and more attractive.

A third party has looked attractive to me for a few years now. I’ve had enough of the extremists. It would be nice if we found some middle ground so I didn’t have to bitch all the time.

She did say that she thought Santorum should stay in the race. I think she favors him.

I don’t hate them. I despise fundamentalist idiots of whatever persuasion.

Mary, so glad you are as turned off about Hillary’s endorsement of Oh shit as I am. I am not one that continues to ride the Hillary bandwagon. I felt betrayed by her endorsement. Still do and probably always will.

Palin is a nitwit. And I’m being polite.

Naaah, she has Gingrich envy.

I doubt Perry’s presence or withdrawal had any impact.  Like Bachmann earlier, Perry overstayed in the race to the point of embarrassment.  Okay, not quite so long, but too long.

Nope, Gingrich is the real head of the Tea Party. He, like they, were willing to bring our government to it’s knees if they didn’t get everything they wanted. Like spoiled brats.

Don’t get me wrong… I actually support the need for fiscal discipline. But radicals on both sides aren’t willing to give and take. That is why our government is unrepresentative of the will of the people.

McCain lost because he screwed up badly by stating the economy was sound just at the moment it tanked. It demonstrated that he was out of touch with reality. And those incoherent Palin interviews didn’t help.

Sure seems to me as if Gingrich is casting a lot of stones.

I didn’t, wouldn’t and won’t.

Glad something woke the sleepy bear.

..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aktPK28QFi8

Evangelicals don’t consider Mormons to be Christians.

i’m no expert but the reason that has been given by some observers is that the cayman islands are used legitimately for foreign investors who want to invest in some Bain financial intruments. 

on the other hand, it’s also used by those trying to avoid or evade taxes.

Instead of the typical I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, Gingrich is playing the I showed mine now where is yours game. And if you don’t right this minute you must be hiding something. It’s total BS that unfortunately too many fall for.

He has the right not to release them as well. Gingrich is using this to pump up class warfare. Within the republican party no less.

The death of journalism began when Bill Clinton ran for President. Actual reporting was replaced by sensational innuendo. And Gingrich was largely responsible for that. Yet now he complains about the same beast he created as if it was someone else’s baby.

The death of journalism began when Bill Clinton ran for President. Actual reporting was replaced by sensational innuendo. And Gingrich was largely responsible for that. Yet now he complains about the same beast he created as if it was someone else’s baby.

My Brother would be considered an Evangelical, and I love him.   However, I can’t stand their blindness when it comes to Gingrich.  They are so willing to forgive someone, because according to Gingrich, he has asked for forgiveness.  Wonderful, no problem.   But they won’t vote for a guy who has led a pretty clean life, because they don’t agree with his religion?  Ridiculous.

Go Niners!!! 

Can’t agree with you Doc.  Gingrich will not attact the Independents, and there’s not way they can win without them.  Gingrich would be the worst choice.  He is such a big blow hard, he reminds of Obama.  Please explain how his knocking capitalism was representative of Republican ideals. 

Newt Gingrich is an insider when it comes to Washington, and now you are trying to sell us that he is something new and different?  Wow, just wow.

i’m right there with you, scotty. 

Yes they did and they apologized and she was fine with it and said Monday Night quarterbacks are not as importants as ‘breaking news’.

Just because Newt won SC does not mean his is going to win the nomination.  If he does……. then our biggest fear will become a reality……. an oblah blah re-election.   I’ve been calling it since last year, obama is getting re-elected.  *disclaimer* I do pray I am wrong

It’s never good to say ALL or HATE.

Oh Good…. that means it is already a broken tradition.

New email in the Inbox from Newsmax.com… the pusher from the right, just like the pusher Daily Kos is to the left: “Earthquake: Newt Defeats Romney in S.C. Rout, Voters Cite Electability”. What is with the ego of Newt and his supporters… Earthquake? Really. Did somebody die? Another time Newt compared something that did not go his way to a Tsunami. Santorum is right… Humble is not the word.

She hasn’t endorsed Gingrich… she may endorse somebody later.  She merely said that she would vote for Gingrich in S.C. to have this primary go on and vet the candidates.  I seriously think she prefers Santorum. She was glowing about his speech.

Likeability matters and he is the least likeable of all four.

Can’t agree here.  I am a supporter of the Tea Party, because nobody else is dealing with the debt.  They have not endorsed Gingrich… because they are not one source.  Kind of like the OWS… no spokes person there.

They are falling for it… Grinch only released this past year’s taxes.  I want to see the year he consulted for Freddy and Fannie.

Palin wants Santorum or herself…. She needs Newt to get rid of Romney and then she’ll get behind Santorum or if he is not viable at that point she’ll move in.

She knows exactly what she’s doing. She is anti-GOP as possible and this “support” of Newt via Todd is major payback for the way the establishment treated her and used her last time around.

It is just a move for her. She is playing for power. Smart as hell. Political animal to the core.

he’ll probably take TN; maybe LA, & NC. wouldn’t it be great if he took GA?

maybe romney should ask forgiveness for having been born a mormon.  would that satisfy them?

But apparently the SC voters liked Gingrich more than the other candidates.

Jeb Bush must have gotten cold feet over Mitt because he has decided to remain neutral until the summer. The Republican Party has lost its ever-loving mind in Gingrich. It’s a shame. 

Smart as hell… Sarah Palin?  … right.

Obama has released everything that anyone else has released and more. Remember; he is the first sitting President in history to have made his birth certificate public record. The idea that Obama hasn’t made records public is absurd.

Romney, on the other hand, is hiding his tax returns which is very unusual. His own father released 12 years of tax returns back in 1968. 

There’s no *there* there with these attacks on Obama – they are baseless and ridiculous … but the attacks on Romney are very very real and very serious. Romney is hiding something.

Whatever it took I’m glad you’re back among us Anthony. Your wit and wisdom was missed.

That should help in Florida but may not be much help elsewhere. In fact where Bush hate is still rampant it may be a hindrance.

I don’t listen to her anymore. She seems to think that the longer this primary battle goes on the better. I don’t. I think it’s destroying the candidates one by one. Not beating them, destroying them.

When moderates and Independents like myself see “family values” people voting to put a POS like noxious Newt and his floozy in the highest office in the country, to represent the “best’ of America, we don’t want to be a part of their coalition.

A former Dem like me sees all the things she once abhorred about the GOP once again.

I am as disgusted with the GOP as I was with the Democrat Party back in 2008. That any decent person would excuse the pattern of behavior of Newt Gingrich amazes me. That “family values” voters would do so is incredible.

Bad as Muslim terrorists? Who have they killed or beheaded or blown up lately? Get a grip!

I think you mean Iowa Kata. And isn’t it amazing that with no votes for those lost precincts so many are now calling Iowa for Santorum. Seems to me if you don’t have all the votes counted in all the precincts you can’t have any winner.

Newt is a reaction to Obama. To a secondary degree his win in SC is a reaction to the Republican Party pushing the “inevitability” of Romney. And most of all it is a reaction to the slavering adoration of Obama by the press. No one listens to the electorate, respects constituents, or gives a damn what we want. Now we will hear how stupid Republican voters are and the reaction will grow worse. Newt is the anti-media, anti-elite, anti-Obama. Tell voters they are stupid, they are not needed for a win, and their opinion do not count and they will react in ways that the “creative class” of do nothings do not understand or like.

Ah the wisdom of the party that touts “Family Values.” Laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic. Although any claim to being the party of “family values” is now ridiculous.

What are the voters, children? Put a POS and his floozy in the White House because they’re miffed? Seriously?

Ooo someone, some pundidiot said “inevitable” so now I’m gonna vote for a man with a total lack of character. That’ll fix em! Again, seriously?

Guess what, I’m a member of the electorate and about as far from an elite as you can get. I don’t want Gingrich and won’t vote for him. Not because someone called me stupid, and many have, but because I don’t want a pair like this residing in our White House.

Not that I think this sleazy pair could win in a general election anyway. Newt as nominee guarantees an Obama win.

There is a larger goal that is causing them to favor Newt.

They want the courts stacked, and the Congress, “Demokratfrei”.

They don’t trust Romney’s judgement in terms of SCOTUS appointments, and believe Gingrich will know how to manipulate the midterms better.

The “values” voters put Barky’s Chicago machine to shame, when it comes to knowing the ins and outs.  This is how the “SuperPACs” are so effectively targeted, and they honestly are skilled at working the lobbyists and orgs in their favor.

If this all looks familiar, it’s the flip side of the Dems and the disproportionate power the civil rights lobbies, the labor unions, and the environmental pressure groups wield.

I refuse to dominate either side, because each one is useless and unresponsive, neither one has a monopoly on purity and innocence, and in the end, it’s the centrists who get screwed, because neither party has a whit of “tolerance” for anything approaching
common sense approaches or logical, reasoned solutions.

I’m beginning to see Romney as possibly a logical choice for former Hillary supporters.

I see certain parallels in their mannerisms and tone, and both are markedly much more “pro-business” than their partisan opponents.

On the other hand, we all remember Hillary’s moderate stances, and look what that got her.  

I knew that was coming…..

Another “gentlemen’s agreement”.

“Jeb Bush must have gotten cold feet over Mitt because he has decided to remain neutral until the summer…”

It might be Christie has first dibs on VP, and they don’t want to send out mixed messages….

“The Republican Party has lost its ever-loving mind in Gingrich. It’s a shame…”

Uh, I’m not so sure how much of this is by GOP design.

There is an internal schism, and I’ve allowed wishful thinking to convince myself that this may not be the final word.

Please, reaffirm my faith in humanity, and tell me the Republicans are not going to accept “President Gingrich” as the next leader of the free world, and the face of America, for the next four years…

President Gingrich=”Revenge Of The Cainiacs”

Alvin Greene……..Now there is a brain.

Apparently, the country decided the serial adulterer issue with Bill Clinton’s two terms.
He was no innocent snared by the thongs of a vast right-wing conspiracy.

I’ll be voting for Romney in my primary…if he lasts that long…but I also think it will be “Hell To the Chief” for four more years.

They are political terrorists and much more dangerous they are willing to trash the best society because their piddly little demands aren’t met.  the result will be caos.  

Mitt isn’t popular because he doesn’t have that from the gut killer instinct to fight at the same rhetorical level as Gingrich. No one except perhaps some evangelicals fringe believes that “family values” as such is going to be any sort of an issue in the general election. 

I’d vote for a Gingrich-Huntsman ticket. Otherwise finding something else to do on election day if this is our nominee.

Newt is even forced to respect that Jon is brilliantly clever and the most intelligent and knowledgeable candidate in the GOP field after, or even tied with, himself. Give the front man his flair, Huntsman has it down on the substance and on the merits of an electable conservative governing record.

You just don’t understand New Yorkers…

All they are saying is go Pluck Yew! Don’t tell me you never knew that Yew trees grew in Florida??!!!

Boy someone needs to look at what Obama released..
The BC hmmmm
Medical records of Obama was a one page letter from a doctor…
Looks like someone has drinken a ton of Kool-aide.

So what if Newt actually wanted and “open” marriage… even as the Clinton’s apparently had that… Who cares? So long as newt doesn’t perjure himself before congress over it then it’s all good. People here might hate Newt and say he will blow up… well he never lied to congress about his ejaculate found on a blue dress… so at least he isn’t ignorant. 

You guys can say what you will… the media has made this republican nomination to be Romney vs whoever can compete with the media. Newt can compete with the media and he is doing that right now. Florida will go to Newt because none of the snowbirds want Romney and they will stay home… because what they want is more European style socialism from Obama. Folks who are stuck here in Florida year round in one of the worst economies with houses worth half of what was paid for them want government to listen to them… for one g.d. time just listen. So excuse regular folks for not getting gushy and mushy over Romney. We already have a European socialist for President… the last thing we need is to follow that up with an aristocratic former Massachusetts governor. 

That’s what “Under the radar” means.  This morning, I heard Jeb will be endorsing in April

Newt is a reaction to Obama the way Goldwater was a reaction to LBJ. The results will be similar. Here’s hoping the GOP actually goes down this road…

I would say that someone who calls the first lady a “floozy” for no reason is someone who lacks character. 

They will if they get enough power to… We must keep these crazy religious nuts out of power.

Yup. You conservatives really have a great sense of humor. Really funny stuff! 

/s

What!?! The half term Gov of Alaska and failed VP candidate of McCain is “the best political animal of her generation”? The absurdity is… absurd. And you really like the phrase “political animal” don’t you? … strange… 

I was a Perry supporter. I heard this morning on Fox that his backers went to Gingrich, led by some members of the SC legislature.
Chuck Norris, who campaigned all over the country with Mike Huckabee in 2008, also endorsed Gingrich a few days ago.

David vs. Goliath?
You aren’t doing too badly flinging your opinion about either!

You dunce.  She was referring to Callista.

Why?  Is Jim Wallis in town?

I don’t hate or like Newt, but if forced to, I will vote for him. I voted for Clinton twice, as I assume many on this site did as well.
The same people who jumped on Herman Cain’s accusers with both feet are now piously opposing Gingrich’s infidelities.
I could use an instruction manual…but I’m too sassy to follow it anyway! LOL!

Silly boy Didn’t you know all Obots are dunces didn’t you know –.LOL

Won’t be long before We see Marvin try on a new Obot skin I bet…Usually after an Obot makes a stupid slip like that they go looking for a new moniker.

Hey when it was thought that Romney won over Santorum it was a land slide…
Now that it looks like Santorum won, by twice as many votes as Romney did its a tie LOL

Read for comprehension much? I’ll do it slow for ya,
The  present  wife  of  candidate  Gingrich  who  was  sleeping with   him  in  his  then-wife’s  bed  is  the  person  I  was  calling  a  floozy.

By any definition I know, Callista fits the bill.

i think you guys are overanalyzing.  newt is what Larry described in his note yesterday.  he is appealing to mindless emotionalism, logic and facts be damned.  remember the kool-aid kids, except there also was something noble about electing the first black president.  let’s hope the kool-aid wears out soon.

having watched some of the morning shows today, it’s deja vu all over again.  the media did its job, destroying romney to let newt rise and prolong the campaign.  now they are retrenching.  the last week reminded me of the media pushing O and destroying Hillary in the early days of the campaign.  let’s see if Romney can learn from his mistakes and grow as a campaigner, as hillary did.

The off shore accounts are not a problem unless he has used then to evade the law. The tax code has so many legal loopholes in it, and if you don’t use them, then you are stupid for letting the IRS take more than they are legally entitled to.
The real problem is that Romney has with the offshore accounts and his tax return situation, given the impression that he has something to hide. Not being straight and forthcoming to the American People is the real problem. Rather he has something to hide or not, he is giving the impression he is hiding something.
Yes it’s true that what Romney has been and is doing is no different than what Obama did in 2008, but that just the point.
All of Romney’s flip-flops, questions about the personal funds and how his campaign seems to almost mirror Obama’s 2008 campaign have just made me a bit leery of his true intentions. Also I just do not really feel that many of his flip-floppy campaign statements reflect the conservative side, whether you look at the flip or the flop side of them.

The media didn’t destroy Romney. He’s doing that to himself. He’s a poor campaigner with a terrible message. 

My mistake. I’m willing to admit mine It’s an important thing to learn to do, because it is quite hard to do. I think that’s why so many people here are still holding onto their grudge against Obama from 2008 even though it’s obviously an insane thing to be doing… they just can’t admit that they were wrong.

Ahh the wisdom of the party that says the are for the underdog poor.
From what I have seen in the last for years the underdog poor have become more poor while the Obama administration created a bigger gap between the middle class and the rich.

Since when are our tax dollars supposed to pay for million dollar bonuses for the corporate elite???

… Wow. Are you being serious right now? is this really the level you’re at?

I’ve noticed that people who hold irrational views are very quick to resort to personal attacks against those who point out their irrational views. Yes I made a mistake in my response there. I misread what she said and my response was incorrect. Now you can safely ignore all of the very valid points I made about the irrationality of going from being a Hillary Clinton supporter to being a Republican… right? Now you guys can all go safely back to your delusional world where the crazy things you guys think actually make sense.

Did you forget about the ethics charges Doc?  Somehow that wasn’t mentioned?

You forgot about the school records.  Is he afraid to post his grades, or did he apply as a foreign student.  If you have nothing to hide, why not just publicize the damn things.

Isnt that why we were leery of Obama??? and now Romney appears to be hiding stuff…Remember I said appears to…
Whats interesting is that some say in support of Romney..When Obama shows his then Romney should show his…HMmmm

did you watch the last debate?  romney had one flub, on the taxes.  he had terrific other answers. 

newt was decimated by santorum and romney; his only ”win” was his defensive rant about the 2d wife question.  if you looked at his face during most of the debate, it was angry and ugly.  but to hear the media run it, newt was wonderful. and do not tell me that newt didn’t use the race card to his advantage with juan williams. 

it’s ironic that the SC electorate loved the mirror image of what they hate — overblown rhetoric with no basis in fact.    

Maybe the Republicans should have remembered that during the Clinton years.  It just makes them sound like a bunch of hypocrites now.

i’m not holding on to a grudge from 2008.  i just saw obama as a man without enough experience to be president and he’s proved me right.  i detest the demise of an independent and credible media because it is an essential component of democracy.

i dislike very much the agenda president obama has put in place because it gets us to bankruptcy faster than at the speed we are headed.  romney is 100% correct when he talks about all the alternatives to capitalism having failed.   

newt is one of the reasons we started down that road; pork-barrell spending, revolving door of congress/k-street/industry lobbying.  he’s never done anything to create a job other than spend tax dollars to enrich himself and his pet projects. and i distrust his rhetoric as much as i distrusted obama’s ”we’re are the ones we’ve been waiting for” and the today is the day the planet will start to heal and the seal levels will start to drop (or whatever 
overblown bull he was peddling on that day).  they are two sides of the same coin.   

i disliked it coming from obama and dislike it equally coming from newt.  as larry pointed out yesterday, illogical emotionalism that manipulates or moves the masses is not what i want or what we need.

The problem is, the longer this primary goes on, the more entrenched people will become over their candidate, causing divisiveness within the party.  If the Republicans want to take back the White House, they need to get behind Mitt Romney now, and not drag this thing out. 

neither won or lost.  you cannot certify a result when there are 10 districts missing.  when they declared romney the winner, we didn’t understand that 10 district were missing.

i think it’s ok to prolong the primary if that’s what the voters want.  i just hate to see the primary turn on newt’s angry rant against a perfectly legitimate question. 

to some extent, it would have been good for  romney to say, actually, newt, what your second wife has to say is  a legitimate question because you told the people that my running of bain, a legal enterprise that created jobs was a matter of character.  and you have said that character is an issue in picking a president.  so let’s look at your character. your conduct, leaving two wives when they were sick is also a matter of character.  and are running as a family man and are opposing same sex marriage on the basis of the sanctity of marriage and you were sleeping with your congressional aide, callista when you were impeaching a sitting president.  so when you were both screwing around, our tax dollars were paying both your salaries.  did you ever screw her in the Speaker’s Office.  oh yeah, and having your tow adult daughters defending the indefensible is not what a man of honor and virtue does.  that’s my two cents newt.

now that should have brought down the house. 

i think it’s ok to prolong the primary if that’s what the voters want.  i just hate to see the primary turn on newt’s angry rant against a perfectly legitimate question. 

to some extent, it would have been good for  romney to say, actually, newt, what your second wife has to say is  a legitimate question because you told the people that my running of bain, a legal enterprise that created jobs was a matter of character.  and you have said that character is an issue in picking a president.  so let’s look at your character. your conduct, leaving two wives when they were sick is also a matter of character.  and are running as a family man and are opposing same sex marriage on the basis of the sanctity of marriage and you were sleeping with your congressional aide, callista when you were impeaching a sitting president.  so when you were both screwing around, our tax dollars were paying both your salaries.  did you ever screw her in the Speaker’s Office.  oh yeah, and having your tow adult daughters defending the indefensible is not what a man of honor and virtue does.  that’s my two cents newt.

now that should have brought down the house. 

remember I said “looks like”  those precints missing make it really weird.

remember I said “looks like”  those precints missing make it really weird.

and both believe that competence trumps overblown rhetoric every day.

and both believe that competence trumps overblown rhetoric every day.

A study came out, and Romney had more unfavorable stories in MSM than any other candidate.  They cited in on Fox the other day. 

frrom an article on the net:

“The Republican primary voters have this dream of a snarling Newt disemboweling Barack Obama in the debates this fall. Talk about myths.

How many debates is Barack going to agree to? Two maybe, tops, and both of them will be MSNBC-style — “Mr. Gingrich, when did you stop beating your first ex-wife?” Follow-up: “When you did you stop beating your second ex-wife?”

To the “Jersey Shore” MTV crowd, Newt would come across as a fat, nasty, pasty old man. They’re not going to realize what a boob Barack is, because they’re boobs, too

Although I dont like name calling of politicians…I even hate it more when people can’t read and then accuse people of saying something they did not say.

Marianne Gingrich receives more media coverage than Obama socializing with  terrorist-supporting Palestinian Rashid Khalidi.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/a_gop_candidates_bitter_ex-wife_receives_more_coverage_than_a_video_of_obama_dining_with_terrorist_s.html#ixzz1k4miiFlg

Here’s an insight of Newt that varies from Larry’s take on him:

http://judsonphillips.com/newt-and-history/ 

Oh, much better for her to call Newts wife a floozy than Obama’s.

I cannot believe the childish, angry, typical left name calling stuff I’ve been seeing here any more.  

My way or the highway w/Obama’s Get in their face, say anything.  Brava, you’ve all joined Obamacrats. LOL

Here’s the problem.  People just don’t like Mitt Romney all that much once they get to know him.  In each of the first three races, he has lost support coming into the final week.  The polls have been very accurate and when the public begins to focus he loses support.  Even in New Hampshire (coming off what they thought was his Iowa win), he ended up losing ground to Huntsman (another Mormon from the other side of the country) in the final days.  The man can’t build support.  He will not win a general election.

That being said, he is a far better option than Gingrich, who not only will lose the general election, but may piss off enough people that the Republicans may not take the Senate.

Romney will probably be the nominee.  As Larry correctly points out, Newt has a half assed campaign operation.  You can get away with that when the races come one at a time in smaller states.  The media does your work for you with a solid week of concentration in a small non diverse area.  With nine days to focus on Florida, that works for Gingrich too. 

But once you get to multiple states and big states on the same day, you need to have a viable campaign operation to be effective.  Gingrich doesn’t have one.  If Romney firewalls himself in the Northeast and California he probably carries the day. Either way, we get four more years of Obama.

Here’s the problem.  People just don’t like Mitt Romney all that much once they get to know him.  In each of the first three races, he has lost support coming into the final week.  The polls have been very accurate and when the public begins to focus he loses support.  Even in New Hampshire (coming off what they thought was his Iowa win), he ended up losing ground to Huntsman (another Mormon from the other side of the country) in the final days.  The man can’t build support.  He will not win a general election.

That being said, he is a far better option than Gingrich, who not only will lose the general election, but may piss off enough people that the Republicans may not take the Senate.

Romney will probably be the nominee.  As Larry correctly points out, Newt has a half assed campaign operation.  You can get away with that when the races come one at a time in smaller states.  The media does your work for you with a solid week of concentration in a small non diverse area.  With nine days to focus on Florida, that works for Gingrich too. 

But once you get to multiple states and big states on the same day, you need to have a viable campaign operation to be effective.  Gingrich doesn’t have one.  If Romney firewalls himself in the Northeast and California he probably carries the day. Either way, we get four more years of Obama.

FYI – From Representative Allen West:
I would like to invite you to tune in to C-SPAN 1 Monday
morning at approximately 10:00 am est to watch a dynamic, bipartisan discussion
I am hosting at the United States Capitol focusing on the conservative black
voice in America. You can also watch the Conservative Black
Forum live on http://www.c-span.org.The
conservative voice in the black community remains mostly unacknowledged by
politicians and the public alike. While the conservative black voice has always
existed, it is more important than ever that it be recognized and encouraged.
More than 95 percent of black voters voted Democrat in the last election. I am
hoping Monday’s forum will begin to shed light on how we can change this status
quo.—————————–Details:What:
Conservative Black Forum
When: Monday, January 23, 2012
Time: 10:00 am
to 12:00 pm
Where: United States Capitol, House Small Business Committee,
Rayburn 2360 Panel participants:• Tim Scott
(Congressman, South Carolina) • Jim Jordan (Congressman, Ohio) • Michael
Steele (Former RNC Chairman, Maryland) • J.C. Watts (Former Congressman,
Oklahoma) • Emanuel Cleaver (Congressman and Chairman, Congressional Black
Caucus, Missouri) • Octavia Johnson (Sherriff, Roanoke, Virginia) •
William Cleveland (City Councilman, Virginia) • Gow B. Fields (Mayor,
Lakeland, Florida) • Fred Solomon (Community Activist, Alabama) • Cleon
Bryant (Pastor, Louisiana) • Dr. Christine Brooks (Community Activist,
Washington, D.C.) • KCarl Smith (Founder, Fredrick Douglas Republicans,
Alabama) • Dr. Karnie C. Smith, Sr. (Fredrick Douglas Republicans, Alabama)
• David Clarke, Jr. (Sheriff, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin) Topics
include: Perception vs. reality when it comes to Black Conservatism
Urban issues in the 21st Century The black church and state The true
history of civil rights Conservative principles in the black community
GOP outreach

I also remember Hillary being criticized for not “dropping out” thereby prolonging the primary.  The 2008 Dem primary was a long one too.

right on!!!!

I love that.  The black Conservatives are called Uncle Tom and who knows what for just following their own hearts.  Something is very wrong and racist with that.

That is the ‘fair’ media for you.

That is a numnut remark.  FYI, I am a Recovered Democrat since 2008 and now a Fierce Indpendent.

I did… me bad.

I have it cited somewhere further down.  It shows that Romney has had more negative media coverage than any other candidate.

We need somebody to lead America… the free world already had Obama… for all that was worth.

We need somebody to lead America… the free world already had Obama… for all that was worth.

2008 repeat including who wins.

Prediction? Same score 17-14 Giants.

See you at the Super Bowl! Its a shame though…. I will be disappointed that the Giants will lose by 6.  The are my second favorite team….

It was a good game though….What a cliff hanger!

Romney is a terrible candidate. The GOP is going to nominate a serial flip-flopper Wall Street 1%er in a down economy? Good luck with that.

Legally you may be able to stuff your money overseas to try and hide income, wealth and reduce your taxes.
However, it is a morality and charater issue. Are you a true American patriot if you do not want to pay your taxes like everyone else does, particularly when you are running to be President of the United States of America? It just looks bad.

It also looks bad when you pay very little taxes when your main platform is even more tax cuts for the rich, while simultaneously calling for cuts in social security and medicare.