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Is it really down to Newt or Mitt?

Stacy McCain takes another look at Rick Santorum, now that the Cain Train has been derailed (fittingly, by a damsel in distress tied to the tracks). Which is a good call for Stacy. And I’d certainly be happy with Santorum hitting his stride, given that I think he’s performed well in debates but has never been given much of a chance to make a splash. Still, in all honestly I’m hoping that the caucus voters of Iowa ignore the punditry and the popularity polls and reward Bachmann for what has been her solid, steady, Constitutionalism and conservatism throughout the GOP debate season (something they did in the early straw poll).

— Which, sure, her unflinching, sometimes combative conservatism marks her as an unhelpful crazy-eyed “purist” loon and an un-serious candidate — the only serious conservatives are those whose conservatism isn’t serious, after all — but hell, it’s my vote, right? So indulge me.

65 Replies to “Is it really down to Newt or Mitt?”

  1. dicentra says:

    Bachmann gets full credit for calling Newt a “frugal socialist” on Beck’s show yesterday and for not backing away from it given the chance.

    Trouble is, I fear that if she were in the Oval Office, both parties would refuse to work with her, would lie about her mercilessly, and then just go on about their wicked business. They’d do the same to Santorum or anyone else who isn’t down with the program.

    Not that putting anyone else in as POTUS will stop their wicked business, just that with Good People there, we get the additional spectacle of their crucifixion.

  2. happyfeet says:

    yes i think it’s down to either Mr. Newt or Mr. Mitt

    of the two I really a lot prefer Mr. Newt, since not nominating Mitt Romney is likely to be one of the highlights of this election cycle

  3. BT says:

    Don’t forget Perry. I’m more interested in action than words anyway.

  4. leigh says:

    I am not forgetting Rick Perry.

  5. Rick Santorum video here: http://tinyurl.com/cclq9jd

    Note: sorry if I’ve posted these here before.

  6. cranky-d says:

    Either Perry or Santorum or Bachmann would be much more preferable than Newt or Mittens. That is to say, I could vote for the first three with a relatively clear conscience. Mittens will certainly never get my vote, and Newt appears to be almost as malleable in his opinions as Romney.

    However, the GOP really doesn’t care. If they don’t get their approved statist, they would just as soon Obama were re-elected so they could continue their “fight” against him.

    It’s all theater to them. To us, it’s our lives.

  7. cranky-d says:

    By the way, it’s only Newt or Mitt if the voters knuckle under to the GOP and and the MBM and make it that way. The voters don’t have to do that, and I hope they don’t.

    OT: there is an ad in my sidebar for Alan Grayson: “Put Progressive Champion Alan Grayson Back in Congress.”

    Progressive Champion. Champion of liberal fascism. I’ll get right on that.

  8. leigh says:

    Alan Grayson needs to go back on his meds. The guy always looks about a split second away from frothing at the mouth and attacking someone.

  9. happyfeet says:

    I think leigh should be in charge of not forgetting Rick Perry

  10. leigh says:

    I already am, happy. It’s just not official yet.

  11. happyfeet says:

    Obama sucks so hard I could even vote for Romney

    there has to be some way to do that ironically

  12. happyfeet says:

    what did you think of his new come to Jesus ads?

  13. leigh says:

    I think they are just the ticket for the rubes in Iowa. This is no time to be subtle and shit.

  14. happyfeet says:

    he nailed it then

  15. Ernst Schreiber says:

    1020 hrs local standard time: Tennessee reports Arizona looks as if she is on the bottom.

    1030 hrs local standard time:

    From the ships and airfields come the wounded—some horribly burned, others riddled by bullets and shrapnel. At some hospitals casualties are laid out on lawns. Medics convert barracks, dining halls, and schools into temporary hospitals.

    For many severely wounded and dying men, all nurses can do is give them morphine. They then put a lipstick M on their foreheads to indicate the painkilling drug. Trucks become ambulances and hearses. The death toll eventually reaches 2,390.

  16. leigh says:

    He’s even wearing his rugged-yet-sexy Carharrt jacket. You know, just like y’all!

  17. Jeff G. says:

    I think leigh should be in charge of not forgetting Rick Perry

    I mentioned Perry last time I wrote something like this. I can support him.

    But he’s not my first choice. I just said who my first choice is. So there was no real forgetting of Perry in this post.

  18. leigh says:

    Are you feeling back up to speed now, Jeff? Being sick sux.

  19. Jeff G. says:

    I’m still feeling a bit under the weather, leigh, but it’s more headache than stomach now. Thank goodness.

    Thanks for asking!

  20. leigh says:

    You’re welcome. Please get a flu shot if you haven’t already done so. Tens of thousands of people are hospitalized with influenza every year. You might look into booster shot for pertussis (whooping cough), too. With the new little one on the way it is best to be safe.

  21. NoisyAndrew says:

    Bachman is unqualified. Yeah, I said it.

    What’s she done? What’s she run?

    Don’t worry. I’ll wait…

  22. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Romney’s wearing Carhart?

  23. Ernst Schreiber says:

    What’s she done?

    More in the MN Senate than Baracky did in IL.

    What’s she run? Her own business. Which has got to be as good as running your own campaign like Baracky did. At least.

    Other in that though, nothing. So better to stick with the SCOAMF you know, right?

    Should she get the nomination that is.

  24. Jeff G. says:

    Bachman is unqualified. Yeah, I said it.

    What’s she done? What’s she run?

    Don’t worry. I’ll wait…

    Bachmann believes in the Constitution and allows it — and conservative principles — to be her guide.

    As to what she’s done, as a citizen activist and later a drafted legislator, she essentially invented the charter school reform movement; in Congress, she’s been pushing for the repeal of ObamaCare and regulatory reform — even as many in the GOP have found it easier to play the game of kicking the can down the road for the good of “the Party.”

    Hope that helps.

  25. dicentra says:

    What’s she run? A huge family.

    In my experience, mothers of large families are excellent managers, highly competent multi-taskers, and they don’t take no crap from nobody.

    For a short time, we had a Governor of Utah, Olene Walker, who was a mother of a large family. She didn’t take no crap from nobody and was highly effective.

    Which is why, naturally, the GOP refused to nominate her for the next election. She didn’t “fit in” with the old boys club, didn’t play their game, and the “nobody” she took no crap from included members of her own party.

  26. McGehee says:

    Bachmann’s a witch! She turned the frontrunner for the GOP nomination into a…

  27. dicentra says:

    McGehee wins the thread!

  28. Ernst Schreiber says:

    For a short time, we had a Governor of Utah, Olene Walker, who was a mother of a large family. She didn’t take no crap from nobody and was highly effective.

    Which is why, naturally, the GOP refused to nominate her for the next election. She didn’t “fit in” with the old boys club, didn’t play their game, and the “nobody” she took no crap from included members of her own party.

    Sound like another Republican Governor I’ve heard of.

  29. NoisyAndrew says:

    I get it — she’s a true believer. I like everything I hear.

    Except that doesn’t mean she knows how to be President.

    The Left nominated one of their true believers back in ’08. Who turned out to be a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure, in the parlance of our times.

    I’m not asking that she have a legislative resume as long as her arm. I just want some indication that she’ll run Washington (down), rather than getting run by it.

    The desire to effect change does not equate to the experience necessary to do so effectively.

  30. NoisyAndrew says:

    I’ve no doubt that Governor Walker was an effective leader. But to argue that she was such because she ran a large family strains credulity.

    By that rationale, we should nominate the Octo-Mom.

    Oh, and McGehee wins.

  31. Jeff G. says:

    Except that doesn’t mean she knows how to be President.

    Only former presidents fit that description.

    As for her being a “true believer,” that’s a good thing. The Constitution ain’t that hard to follow. It’s all the nuance that’s gotten us so off path.

    Bachmann has a show a willingness to buck her own party and the establishment when they begin rationalizing their big government “pragmatism.” That’s the kind of fight I want in a candidate.

    If you don’t think she can get things done, don’t vote for her. It’s your call.

  32. newrouter says:

    ot the jihad gets downgraded

    Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday blasted the Defense Department for classifying the Fort Hood massacre as workplace violence and suggested political correctness is being placed above the security of the nation’s Armed Forces at home.

    During a joint session of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, the Maine Republican referenced a letter from the Defense Department depicting the Fort Hood shootings as workplace violence. She criticized the Obama administration for failing to identify the threat as radical Islam.

    link

  33. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Except the Octo-mom doesn’t really run a family, does she?

  34. NoisyAndrew says:

    I never said being a true believer wasn’t a good thing. Merely that it wasn’t by itself sufficient.

  35. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Here’s one thing about the Iowa caucuses I think I can safely say: If Mitt Romney doesn’t have enough supporters in the room the win the local caucus, they’ll back Ron Paul on the second ballot.

  36. happyfeet says:

    I can support Perry fine but boyo needs to hustle

    plus also make the sentences

    I don’t want it to come down to where I have to go cast a vote for Michele with one l just to wrest my little country from the clutches of a fascist Soros lackey

    but goddamn it I’ll do it

  37. Jeff G. says:

    I never said being a true believer wasn’t a good thing. Merely that it wasn’t by itself sufficient.

    And I never said being a true believer alone was sufficient — though I do think it can go a long way when being a true believer dovetails with following the blueprint of the founders and framers. Bachmann isn’t afraid of the media. She doesn’t try to win them over by telling them what they want to hear.

    She’s also not afraid to tell her own party that they’re hurting the country.

  38. Ernst Schreiber says:

    It also occurs to me that if Gingrich supporters do the same thing, Ron Paul might win in IA.

  39. cranky-d says:

    I think Bachmann and Santorum would both be willing to bring back Regis, too.

  40. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Between that and not getting the RNC memo, Newt Gingrich holds on as my second alternate to my first alternate candidate. Sorry Rick.

  41. happyfeet says:

    it was mostly the cowardly and useless obamawhore Colin Powell and friends what knee-capped Mr. Bolton

  42. dicentra says:

    Who turned out to be a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure, in the parlance of our times.

    By whose measure? By ours? Yes, by ours, he’s worse than Carter.

    But by the standards of those who want the whole thing to come crumbling down so they can reconstruct the New Order according to their liking, he’s doing just fine.

    But to argue that she was such because she ran a large family strains credulity.

    By that rationale, we should nominate the Octo-Mom.

    Strains credulity? Are you high? Bachmann didn’t just raise her own kids; she took on foster kids, who are tons harder to raise. Unless you can show that she was one of the bad foster moms, who was in it just for the money, you need to rethink that.

    Why would “my rationale” lead to the Octo-Mom? It was evident from the outset that she’s a freaking mess. Wanna bet her home is utter pandemonium? Did she even think to provide her kids with a good father?

    Not sure why you would assume that my endorsement of Mothers Of Large Families would include psych-ward escapees like Octo-Mom.

  43. happyfeet says:

    Bachmann is presidential like in Battlestar Galactica where like 30 other people ahead of her die first

  44. Jeff G. says:

    Bachmann is presidential like in Battlestar Galactica where like 30 other people ahead of her die first

    Ironically, I’d put your credibility as a commentator about presidential worthiness even deeper back in line.

    So there’s that.

  45. happyfeet says:

    no I’m really insightful

  46. newrouter says:

    you’re definitely full of sumthing

  47. happyfeet says:

    fine don’t believe me

  48. dicentra says:

    If it’s not close, they can’t cheat.

    What do you wanna bet they do anyway, regardless of the polling and margins?

    And even when there’s ample evidence of cheating, it won’t be reported by the MSM, the alternate media will go ballistic, and nothing is investigated, or if it is, nothing comes of it?

    Maybe it doesn’t matter whom we nominate. Maybe the fix is already in.

  49. Jeff G. says:

    no I’m really insightful

    I guess that’s why so many people read your blog.

  50. happyfeet says:

    hah I wish

  51. I think you meant to say you are inciteful.

  52. happyfeet says:

    ok now I’m confused

  53. LBascom says:

    “The Left nominated one of their true believers back in ’08. Who turned out to be a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure, in the parlance of our times.”

    Ok, Di beat me to it, but are you kidding? Obama has been fantastically successful. It don’t hurt that he had Reid, Polosi, Soros, and a hundred years of progg groundwork helping, but as far as accomplishing his agenda? The kid is a dynamo.

    I’m not so sure, regardless who is elected next time, that his main goal of fundamentally transforming the country won’t be accomplished.

  54. motionview says:

    That’s pretty interesting John. I wonder if Bolton knew before the speech. Actually, I wonder if Newt knew before the speech.

    Obama has spent his entire political career avoiding direct hits. His #1 personally controllable metric between now and Nov is staying on prompter. The Cabal knows that their likelihood of success is inversely proportional to the amount of time Obama is unplugged, whether press conference, non-fluff reporters, or debates.

    So if you are picking a candidate because you think he’ll kick Obama’s ass in a debate, you might want to give that another think. Who could imagine a press forging documents in a presidential campaign? The left gay-baiting to win a House election? Who could imagine a Democrat candidate eschewing public finance? Any candidate quitting his church in the middle of a Presidential campaign? They have no compunctions about saying or doing anything to win, and this time it’s for all the marbles.

    Don’t be surprised if we never get this guy in the ring. Tell me Professor, are these mocking Republican attempts to goad President Obama into debating, at core, designed to play to deeply held conservative racial stereotypes?

  55. leigh says:

    I heard someone on the radio claiming that Newt had had his clock cleaned in a debate last time he ran for office. I wish I could remember who said it. Anyway, he sounds much less impressive, if you were impressed, in a transcript. It’s kind of like word salad.

  56. Stephanie says:

    Bachmann – MOLF for Prez!

    or

    Palin – MILF for Prez!

    We anagram, You decide.

  57. dicentra says:

    I was thinking the same thing, MV. Obama could easily get away with refusing to debate Newt or anyone else, for that matter.

    Without providing any justification at all.

  58. Abe Froman says:

    I’m not sure I agree with the idea that Obama can easily avoid debating. Certainly not if the campaign against him is in part built around the notion that he’s an incompetent fraud (propped up by the media). AS IT SHOULD BE.

  59. motionview says:

    If this election is going to be won by a conservative, it is going to be won over the broken bodies of the MBM. I like to think of that as the cherry on top.

  60. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Who could imagine a press forging documents in a presidential campaign? The left gay-baiting to win a House election? Who could imagine a Democrat candidate eschewing public finance? Any candidate quitting his church in the middle of a Presidential campaign? They have no compunctions about saying or doing anything to win, and this time it’s for all the marbles.

    And anytime your inclined to doubt that fundamental truth, go look up the “Daisy” Ad.

    If you don’t vote Democrat in November weesa gonna die!

    DIE!

  61. NoisyAndrew says:

    Yeah, great, Bachmann raised kids. She raised foster kids.

    I’m sorry, but this is bumper-sticker argument. “They should let my gramma run the country, she’d have it whipped into shape in no time! She’ll paddle Congress with her big wooden spoon if they get out of line!”

    I didn’t think intoxicants were required to point out that the skill set needed to raise a large family and the skill set needed to reform government were not 100% identical.

    “Leading the fight” against Obamacare is not the same as knowing how to replace our current bloated health-care monstrosity with something that will not pervert the market.

    I don’t need the POTUS to be Queen of the Wonks. Just that she’s got something going for her besides conviction and private-sector awareness. Nothing wrong with those things: I like politicians to have them. But a little more legislative or executive experience would make her a stronger candidate, IMO.

    As to Obama as a failure, yes, I judge him by the standards he routinely proclaims, that his brand of progressive liberalism is going to bring back the New Deal Golden Age (I read that somewhere). I didn’t consider a Manchurian conspiracy because I tend not to assume malice when incompetence will explain.

    What I do see is people who voted for Obama coming around to the idea that he doesn’t have the resume to do what he said he could do. That the community organizer doesn’t know what he’s doing and is limping along, bored and frustrated. And I would much rather keep Michelle Bachmann in the House, where her spirit and conviction and earned common sense can make her an asset to our cause, then to put her in a position she may or may not have the ability to handle.

    I’ll get back to my bong now.

  62. Jeff G. says:

    Ah, I see. So your tactic is going to be to ignore all the policy ideas she’s put out (available on her website), cite my brief synopsis of what she’s done to combat ObamaCare, declare the synopsis lacking in specifics and diminish it as bumperstickesque in its shallowness, then denounce Bachmann as not serious or capable based on that synopsis.

    Clever!

    And I note that you avoid that Bachmann has run a business, and successfully fought city hall while still a citizen activist working to reform education.

    If what you want is someone who’s been groomed by the Kennedy School and has the requisite legislative and executive experience, plenty of those abound. And they’ve gotten us where we are today. So by all means, yes, more please!

  63. NoisyAndrew says:

    Yeah. Kennedy School. Love those bastards, I do. Can’t get enough of their orotund pith, their patrician glamour.

    Yup. You so nailed me.

    You wanna discuss her business? Fine! What was it? How well did it do? What made her leave it behind for politics? I’m listening.

    As to fighting city hall, I like it. She should write a book about it. But you know what it sounds like? It sounds like community organizing. And I think we’ve all learned that such is not the best introduction for a job behind the Resolute Desk, even as one grants that Bachmann’s work was far more successful.

    I’m not trying to build a pyre for the woman. I’m not turned off by her Minnesota accent: she reminds me of my grantparents. I don’t consider her stupid, uninformed, or a hapless snowbilly who needs to shut up while the men are talking. All I want from Bachmann, and I do mean all, is . . . wait for it . . . ” a little more legislative or executive experience.” Which, her current job will be well-suited to give her.

    And if that makes me pre-surrendering Establishment tool, then hell. At least there’ll be cocktail parties.

  64. […] Gingrich has a point. Even if you accept, as some at Protein Wisdom do, that Obama is doing exactly what he wants, he’s not becoming popular by doing so. He’s […]

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