Patterico's Pontifications

1/20/2012

John King’s Big Favor

Filed under: 2012 Election — Karl @ 12:00 pm



[Posted by Karl]

He did everyone a favor, but especially Newt Gingrich:

Mr. Gingrich delighted much of the audience at the debate with his attack on the moderator, John King, of CNN, who began the proceeding by asking the former House speaker about his ex-wife’s allegations that Mr. Gingrich asked “to enter into an open marriage.”

Mr. Gingrich met the question with cold anger, winning roars of approval from the debate audience as he said through nearly clenched teeth, “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.” But he ultimately said of his ex-wife Marianne’s allegations, reported first on Thursday by ABC News, “The story is false.”

Given the conventional reaction, GOP fundraiser/consultant (and Newt fan) Nathan Wurtzel nailed it: “Clearly, most of the political press I follow never heard the line ‘Never get mad except on purpose.’ ”  Or as Jonah Goldberg noted:

Newt’s opening answer was very strong and will be replayed a lot. But I thought it was overstated and, as he kept going, it became clear he was trying to squelch the issue rather than express his true rage. When he was all lovey-dovey with John King after the debate, it underscored that it was as much performance as anything else.

Completing the trifecta is John Podhoretz (a Mitt Romney fan, afaik): “I find it astonishing that people are falling for his being outraged at being asked about his character.”

Newt’s ample personal baggage is one of the generally-known things about him — probably as much as they know about his Speakership.  Like the issues raised about Mitt Romney — Bain, the tax returns, etc. — the marriage issue is not going away, so Republicans (and ultimately all of us) are better served discussing it sooner rather than having regrets later.  So thank John King; it’s a pretty good bet Newt did.

–Karl

267 Responses to “John King’s Big Favor”

  1. Newt Gingrich to John King – My lack of a moral compass is not an appropriate issue to raise in a debate. You are despicable for bringing it up. In my opinion, it in no way reflects on my character to serve as president of this country, but think of all the women I can bang once I’m president.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  2. Honestly, I think that the Left set themselves up. In some ways, the correct answer would be to ask Mr. King his opinions on the press hiding John Edwards’ affair during a Presidential primary instead of decade old issues that have appeared in the press many times?

    I think that the Left basically states that the Right is hypocritical, claiming values and not showing them.

    Which is a great opening: yes, let’s start discussing hypocrisy. We can begin by comparing campaign statements of politicians to their actions while President—if they wish to be re-elected.

    Except you can’t do that in this kind of venue.

    Regardless of Mr. Gingrich’s, um, unusual personal background, that question was shameful and foolishly displayed the MSM’s bias.

    I thought they were the smart ones.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  3. Gingrich loved his wives. Gingrich loves his country.

    Gingrich cheated on his wives. Gingrich (will) / (will not) cheat on his country?

    Fred Z (cd57b8)

  4. Like the issues raised about Mitt Romney — Bain, the tax returns, etc. — the marriage issue is not going away, so Republicans (and ultimately all of us) are better served discussing it sooner rather than having regrets later. So thank John King; it’s a pretty good bet Newt did.

    Yeah, but not endlessly.

    Tainting the tea party movement with the charge of racism is proving to be an effective strategy for Democrats. There is no evidence that tea party adherents are any more racist than other Republicans, and indeed many other Americans. But getting them to spend their time purging their ranks and having candidates distance themselves should help Democrats win in November. Having one’s opponent rebut charges of racism is far better than discussing joblessness.

    Mary Frances Berry

    There’s no end to the dead strawhorses the media would like us to keep beating.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  5. FDR
    IKE
    JFK
    LBJ
    Bubba
    Possibly probably others

    Recent holders of the presidency have not been known as a particularly moral compassy group when it comes to their marriage vows it seems. America may not like it one bit, but America knows it as fact and sees a cheap one-sided media gotcha moment for what it is.

    This is why John King got the strong reaction he did from the audience (and from Newt) I think. See media treatment of the marriages of Edwards, John compared to treatment of McCain, John when both were running for president in early 2008.

    elissa (28c05d)

  6. Romney to Michelle Malkin-How dare you bring up my support for giving jobs to people based on their skin color.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  7. Newt was and still is his own worst enemy. He’s a very smart man, and he’d be the first to tell you.

    Most of this is old news, but this – and the fact that he was effectively removed from his leadership post for the greater good – should give you pause.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  8. Can he stake his claim, make a case, stand up to sloppy criticism and take no prisoners in an argument?

    Yes, that ‘s something, especially when he has to argue respectably conservative views to get what he wants.

    Also you can think o’ the line in Monty Python everytime you hear his name ever. Bonus

    SarahW (b0e533)

  9. Hey, elissa… you left out Harry Truman, who was famous for “the ruttin’ buck stops here”, which was a nifty little catchphrase and sign that he posted outside the door of each of his mistresses.

    Who knew?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  10. Charles Krauthammer: “if [Jughead] wins in November, .. It will be luck. He could not have chosen more self-destructive adversaries.”

    Well, that’s partly true Chaz, but I think including Progressives like yourself in the Big Tent might be partly to blame as well.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  11. Newt has so much more potential, and he also has a better conservative record than the other guys.

    His baggage is a problem, but I think not a fatal one.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  12. Jonah Goldberg on this mornings Laura:

    You know I was one of the early subscribers to the “Romney is the most electable theory”, not that he’s my guy, but we’re all beginning to question that theory”[for the exact wording see Laura’s transcript].

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  13. and somewhere in Texas, a coyote howls in pain.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  14. Bess turning in grave
    Haiku make joke of Harry’s
    most signature phrase

    elissa (28c05d)

  15. The relevant thing is that Newt’s problems don’t interest many outside the Republican Party, since we seem to have the market on moralism cornered. I am told by my more liberal friends that while they don’t like Newt on policy grounds, they don’t think the marital stuff is very interesting. Not clear that this will be a problem in the general.

    Mitt, otoh, has corporate/wall street/business issues that will be a problem in the general election because they mostly interest people OUTSIDE the Republican Party. Not a good year to be seen as Wall Street Incarnate.

    Kevin M (563f77)

  16. Team Newt get busy
    baste fatman in victim sauce
    “the b*tch set me up”

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  17. Mitt, otoh, has corporate/wall street/business issues that will be a problem

    Please describe in specifics what you view as issues, Kev.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  18. the fact that he was effectively removed from his leadership post for the greater good

    Bollocks! He was removed because he wasn’t interesting in the feeding trough. Hastert, however, was interested in nothing but. Newt’s departure marked the end of the reform era. After that is was nothing but bigger government and pork.

    Kevin M (563f77)

  19. “Bollocks! He was removed because he wasn’t interesting in the feeding trough.”

    LOL.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  20. I am told by my more liberal friends that while they don’t like Newt on policy grounds, they don’t think the marital stuff is very interesting. Not clear that this will be a problem in the general.

    They will attempt (poorly) to prove Newt is a hypocrite for how Newt complained of Clinton abusing his office and lying under oath.

    But yeah, that’s not likely to impact actual swing voters.

    Mitt, otoh, has corporate/wall street/business issues that will be a problem in the general election because they mostly interest people OUTSIDE the Republican Party. Not a good year to be seen as Wall Street Incarnate.

    Yep. Businessmen who relied on bailouts from the FDIC and pocketed millions will have a hard time making the case against the Obama administration’s GM Bailout. When you buy a failed company, and make money by leaving the red ink to the taxpayers, that’s not capitalism.

    It puts the GOP on the defensive, and I don’t see Mitt arguing for tax cuts for the highest earners.

    It’s a familiar problem. Mitt can’t hammer Obamacare. Mitt can’t hammer how every Obama promise has an expiration date.

    In some ways, Mitt is actually worse than Obama on things like that (not that I wouldn’t vote for him just because Obama has violated the constitution).

    Dustin (7362cd)

  21. Newt… the other white meat.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  22. Please describe in specifics what you view as issues, Kev.

    In a word, no. Homey don’t play that game no more, especially not with a troll who never posts anything other than snark (or links to snark).

    Kevin M (563f77)

  23. the anti-capitalists gird their skinny loins to do battle.

    With Republicans “conservatives” like these, who needs Democrats?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  24. Also this AM Laura interviewed Sweater Vest and Romney, the latter was largely lost to radio feed limbo, but,

    Santorum was angry(probably genuinely) that she brought up “conservatives must coalesce behind one candidate or Romney wins”, as we’re “only three primaries into to a 50 primary contest”.

    Romney’s sticking with not releasing his returns ’til April, possibly including earlier year’s summaries, so as not to provide Obama fodder.

    He continued to defend his “Americas economy is still improving but Obama cannot take credit” theme but stumbled onto the labor force contraction note.

    Goldberg hit this as being a number’s guy, when people only care about their job or lack of one and the genius of Reagan’s “are you better off than four year’s ago”.

    Knock Neut all you like but these other two are Dog’s breakfast.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  25. Didn’t think so, Kev.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  26. People need to look at how absolutely poor Romney’s responses have been to the Bain questions. Pretty much all he’s done is wrap the Capitalism Flag around himself and say “How Dare You!” and “Look, Over There, It’s Halley’s Comet!”

    And if he cannot defend his business record in a Republican primary, what makes anyone think he’ll be able to do it when Democrats are involved?

    Kevin M (563f77)

  27. The only way to clean up the economy is to cut spending and say no to bank bailouts.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  28. the feigned outrage
    performance bullsh*t artist
    Mister Newt Gingrich

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  29. Team A.B.O. needs
    to keep minds open and to
    keep the powder dry

    elissa (28c05d)

  30. 22. ” a troll who never posts anything other than snark ”

    It’s not a bug, it’s a feature. “If they bring a knife, we bring a gun”.

    Just as the economy cycles, the party in the WH cycles.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  31. Romney is holding his cards close to his vest. You don’t make millions of dollars for yourself and shareholders by playing fast and loose.

    That’s why the others are left to flail and posture.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  32. In a word, no. Homey don’t play that game no more, especially not with a troll who never posts anything other than snark (or links to snark).

    Comment by Kevin M

    Good answer. If your answer to any ideological question is ‘Rely on Mitt Romney’, you probably aren’t very honest, anyway.

    Every promise he makes comes with an expiration date. Gun control, abortion, being progressive, even socialism itself.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  33. The others are running to better their brand, for eventual book tours and to land more lucrative slots as lobbyists.

    Romney’s running for POTUS.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  34. No, some like negotiating with Iran, making sure
    ‘electricity prices necessarily skyrocket, those are keepers;

    http://youtu.be/sq3GGwgV7R0

    narciso (87e966)

  35. The lies, like some of the mouths, are large in Texas.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  36. Karl, just because something appears in the Post, it’s not necessarily true, you could ask DSK about that, or for more recent examples;

    http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/wild_tales_of_sarah_dxa3NgAWKI9BhBUz8Z99GK

    narciso (87e966)

  37. And ‘Kev’, I tried to discuss issues with Haiku. He played that game with me, asking for some arguments.

    I noted how Rick Perry had cut education spending and Mitt had increased it. Both needed to cut spending, but only one was willing to take on a sacred cow like education… which to me is an indicator of a serious conservative governor these days.

    Haiku responded that I was a liar.

    I asked why, and he laughed and said I didn’t understand his sense of humor (because he looked it up and saw I was telling the truth). Then he claimed Daleyrocks had proven that Perry was “forced” to cut education spending. This isn’t true… he could have raided savings or cut other agencies more. It’s actually so obviously true that I noted they were being quite dishonest themselves.

    But first I simply asked Haiku why he was calling me a liar, and he refused (was totally unable) to back that up. For over a day he replied to at least twenty comments asking him to back up why he said that, and refused.

    That’s a troll.

    A real man would have simply apologized.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  38. And she’s a NewsCorp asset as was Newt not that long ago, there’s even a paper trail behind the lies.

    narciso (87e966)

  39. They will attempt (poorly) to prove Newt is a hypocrite for how Newt complained of Clinton abusing his office and lying under oath

    You skipped the part where Newt went after Clinton on family values. I assume that’s intentional on your part because it undermines your larger point. Fact is that Newt was opportunistic and a hypocrite. Also, he was sleezy to his (now former) wives. That means something to me. It’s not going to be the only issue I pay attention to, but it is going to be AN issue that I pay attention to.

    I’ll also say that when ‘family/Christian values’ types ignore the screw ups of people that agree with them it really lowers my ability to stomach their ‘values based’ arguments; specifically about gay marriage.

    time123 (03e182)

  40. Genius Sununu, hits Neut for being undisciplined, as tho not backing his tax rise was traitorous, following H.W.’s “Read my lips pledge”.

    As in Kent to King Lear.

    Well, H.W. was a qualified Progressive, war hero, Phi Beta Kappa, wealthy businessman, Representative, Diplomat, VP.

    In Romany we have he’s George’s kid, made a bundle with his inheritance. It’s his turn.

    Forget the fat guy created the Republican South, he’s too smart for the trailer trash to understand without outrage at some misinterpretation.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  41. Trailer trash?

    Stop insulting yourself gary.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  42. Whose the fat guy, Barbour?

    narciso (87e966)

  43. I assume that’s intentional on your part because it undermines your larger point.

    No, it wasn’t “intentional”.

    The fact is that the Monica Lewinsky situation is so much different than a private divorce situation after years of separation.

    Also, he was sleezy to his (now former) wives.

    What do you mean? Maybe you’re right, but a lot of the things I hear about that say he left them when they got cancer, or when they got MS, and are otherwise basically untrue.

    What sleaze are you talking about?

    Note: I already granted there is baggage. I realize that having an angry ex is already a problem.

    But it was a long time ago, and is very, very much different from the Bill Clinton situation.

    I’ll also say that when ‘family/Christian values’ types ignore the screw ups of people that agree with them it really lowers my ability to stomach their ‘values based’ arguments; specifically about gay marriage.

    Ummm, what? When have I discussed gay marriage? You assume way too much.

    Newt has admitted he made mistakes … what decades ago now? And promised never to do it again. That’s pretty compatible with my values.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  44. Genius Sununu, hits Neut for being undisciplined, as tho not backing his tax rise was traitorous, following H.W.’s “Read my lips pledge”.

    No surprise. Some Republicans are OK with a massive government getting bigger if it means less hostility from the press.

    Mitt Romney campaigned against the contract with America and a host of other conservative concepts, so I already knew which of these guys Sununu would like.

    Basically, if you’re not a conservative on spending, and aren’t too worried about social issues, and yet you must be a Republican anyway, you ought to vote Mitt Romney.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  45. 42. The trailer trash isn’t the sarcastic part, its the ‘misinterpretation’.

    Remember, my people eat lutefisk and listen to Garrison Keillor in flights of ecstasy.

    But the sod huts wit goats grazin da roofs is behind us.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  46. It was said of Sununu, that the following apocryphal line was applied to him ‘why do people take an instant dislike to me, it saves time’ was
    the answer, rimshot;

    narciso (87e966)

  47. 43. Barbour isn’t a grassroots type, more a K-street type.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  48. Yes, but I was speaking of his time, in the Nixon and Reagan administration,

    narciso (87e966)

  49. The problem for Mitt Romneycare is that the field has thinned so quickly.

    Newt doesn’t need as much money as Mitt does. Mitt has to plaster some states in negative ads just to barely lose to Rick Santorum. He’s going to really burn through the cash by the time Florida is over.

    Newt, being the most conservative candidate who can win, will probably be able to hang in there so long that Mitt’s cash advantage starts to evaporate as it did against Mccain (who also had a severe money disadvantage to Mitt).

    The negative attacks will hurt Newt in the short term… but they are already old news and pretty soon if the contest is just Newt vs Mitt, I think Newt will win.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  50. 44. And Slick wagged is finger at the nation, perjured himself before a grand jury, and forced himself on a number of women, e.g., Willey, Broderick, in fact, saying she was raped, Jones obtained an $900K settlement, uncontested.

    The Impeachment wasn’t for cheating on a lesbian.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  51. 50. Excellent point, big donors leaving Perry for Romney isn’t the boon when the majority of Americans, to the age of 65, get their news from the Internet.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  52. What people need to step back and take a look at is this screwed up process we have for picking a GOP nominee.

    I don’t see why we needed to pick a process that amounts to a mud wrestling match ref’d by Karl Marx.

    If Newt survives this, the MFM will start mining his elementary school classmates for dirt, so they can ask him why he hates kids and the poor so much he wants to put them to work in sweatshops, but since he can’t then as janitors.

    I really don’t see why we need let them drive the agenda. Take a look at this thread.

    Meanwhile, Obama puts the US on the line for in the way of a $2B tax credit to Brazil for off-shore drilling, puts a moratorium on our own off-shore drilling in the Gulf, cancels the Keystone pipeline, then heads off to Disney World to announce he’s going to ease travel restrictions on citizens of wealthy countries like, oh I dunno, Brazil.

    That’s President Barack “Redistribute Wealth” Obama’s vision for the country. We’ve made our ill-gotten gains by exploiting the “poor and vulnerable” at home and abroad. The rest of the world can’t really stop us from heating our homes and SUVs and living large, but Obama can.

    So get to work, suckers, in that Mickey Mouse costume and at the pop stand and busing tables to entertain and take care of all those foreign tourists that Obama’s going to make sure become prosperous. You had your turn, now it’s theirs.

    As soon as you get done bickering over Gingrich’s moral compass, Romney’s greed, and Santorum’s wierdness.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  53. 49. Understood.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  54. Dustin… you’ve been shown at least a hundred times (and not just by me) that what you post is usually half-truths, out-of context quotes, key words deleted, total distortion of statistical data, etc., etc., ad nauseum.

    If I had a dollar for every time I’ve read (I’ll paraphrase) “Dustin, I don’t think that the info in the link you’ve posted says what you claim it says”, I’d take the missus on an all expenses paid vacation to Hawaii. And that’s a fact.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  55. Specially since he promised Brazil we would be their
    ‘best customers’, and he had the OPIC cover the bet for Soros.

    narciso (87e966)

  56. Good comment, Steve.

    It’s not Romney’s “greed” that is his problem. It’s his ruthlessness, particularly in his political flip flops, though it defines him in other ways I am sure.

    It’s not Santorum’s “weirdness” that bugs me (he’s not even weird). It’s his big government agenda and his lack of impressive accomplishments (at least anything indicating he can handle what needs to be done).

    Newt’s baggage doesn’t bother me either. I think his ego might even be a strong reason to vote for him when you add it into his laffer-kemp agenda.

    Here we are at what COULD be a pivotal point in American history. Newt sees it that way, and wants to be the man who led the steering away from this nutty version of Keynesian policy. His ego will require him to succeed in that role, even when the going gets tough, which it will. This is categorically different from how Romney will interpret any situation he encounters.

    That’s President Barack “Redistribute Wealth” Obama’s vision for the country.

    It’s a scary vision that is at the very heart of Romneycare and Progressivism, which one of the GOP front runners described himself as. You are 100% right that we need to focus on issues instead of trashing candidates with stupid personal stuff, or following the media’s agenda (such as ABC’s for Newt).

    Dustin (7362cd)

  57. 32. Look at CNN’s examination of Neut’s taxes. He made money like millions of Amerikkkan’s do on S-chapter running his own business, only $96K was the House pension.

    $8K spent doing his return.

    Think Romany connects? Yes, unlike Kerry his investments are all above board and he pays taxes on every cent. But he’s making money in avenues not open to us.

    We are not allowed to play, how many of you hayseeds get a per diem on your checking account balance?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  58. I should make it clear that the MFM is really talking about us, the conservative voters, when they discuss the lack of moral compass, greed, and being weird. It’s like the racist “dog whistle” talk.

    It won’t matter whether we end up with the rich greedy bastard, the womanizing hypocrite who tried to impeach the first black President, or the homophobe who’s so weird he brings dead babies home to play with, only those white greedy, hypocritical, homophobic racists would ever vote for the whoever ends up as the last man standing.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  59. 55. ““Dustin, I don’t think that the info in the link you’ve posted says what you claim it says”, I’d take the missus on an all expenses paid vacation to Hawaii. And that’s a fact”

    La, la, la, I can’t hear you.

    If I had a nickel for every argument that Romany lickspittles just ignore and proceed on their merry way as though the argument was never made and doesn’t exist in the public domain, I’d buy the missus a set of diamond studs(she has no time for a vacation).

    And that’s a fact.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  60. Lutefisk stinks. I’ll eat saddle of goat anytime.

    sickofrinos (44de53)

  61. It won’t matter whether we end up with the rich greedy bastard, the womanizing hypocrite who tried to impeach the first black President, or the homophobe who’s so weird he brings dead babies home to play with, only those white greedy, hypocritical, homophobic racists would ever vote for the whoever ends up as the last man standing.

    For the most part, I think you’re right. To them, it won’t matter.

    Except that Romney is clearly much closer to Obama ideologically than the others, so they would rather we nominate him and then hopefully they then prefer Obama beats him.

    Gary, he’s just a troll. One of his links bashing Perry labeled Perry a “eugenacist” and claimed 9/11 was an inside job. He was simply googling anything bashing Perry and then spamming the thread with it, while saying he would explain how I was lying “tomorrow” and “you don’t understand my sense of humor”.

    Just a troll, here to harm the reputation of honest people because they criticize Romney’s record, such as on increasing education spending when his state is one of the worst in debt.

    He can then make vague claims that ‘the link doesn’t say what you think it did’ because all he wants is attention. He will trash the reputation of honest commenters here if it gets him a little attention.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  62. Herman Cain did not cheat on his wife.

    Eff you.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  63. Recent holders of the presidency have not been known as a particularly moral compassy group when it comes to their marriage vows it seems.

    But the voters didn’t know about it when they elected these people. If he wins, Gingrich would be the first president whom people elected despite knowing him to be an adulterer.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  64. Comment by gary gulrud — 1/20/2012 @ 12:38 pm

    Neut’s taxes. He made money like millions of Amerikkkan’s do on S-chapter running his own business, only $96K was the House pension.

    $8K spent doing his return.

    And Santorum does them all himself using some kind of program. Like Timonthy Geithner. Geither slipped up because his situation was something the program didn’t anticipate. A job, buit Sopcial Security taxes were not withheld (because it was an international organizatuin) He knew he had to pay income tax, but didn’t realize he was liable for Social Security Self-Employment tax.

    Mitt Romney doesn’t have the faintest clue what’s in his taxes since that is all done by professionals, (well he knows it’s mostly capital gains) nor any idea what anyone would want to see, or why this is done, or what is done, even though apparently his father was the first Presidential caniddate to release them.

    Ron Paul doesn’t want to release his taxes and remembers what maybe the original justification was. He says he has no conflcit of interest os therefore no need to release them. says he is also the poorest.

    Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb)

  65. Obama’s campaign clearly wants Romney:

    Taht could be:

    A) because they have mapped out an attack and

    a) They think it’s actually good
    b) It’s not, but they don’t use their plans it’ll be a lot of wasted effort.

    B) It’s defense. They are afraid of attacks on his record that they think Romney won’t make.

    Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb)

  66. Dustin – I have seen a quote where Romney said he was progressive on social issues. I have not seen one where he describes himself as a progressive. Do you have a citation for your reference to him saying that or is it just another quote you are shortening.

    Same with him referring to Roe v. Wade as “good law”. I see a quote with Romney referring to the case as settled law. Do you have a quote with him referring to it as “good law”?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  67. Rudy Giuliani was pretty progressive on social issues. Maybe that’s why Rick Perry endorsed him in 2008.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  68. ==But the voters didn’t know about it when they elected these people.==

    Probably true, Milhouse (Clinton being the possible exception). But voters now know that our past presidents’ extra-marital dalliances were open secrets which the media kept from them. They are noticing and examining how and why Newt’s situation is different and why the media is treating it so very differently.

    elissa (28c05d)

  69. 65. “didn’t realize he was liable for Social Security Self-Employment tax”

    Well, give me his job, I can offend Europeans as well as anyone.

    Take a bath for Marx’s sake.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  70. What is the lefts definition of a Eugenicist?

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  71. “I noted how Rick Perry had cut education spending and Mitt had increased it. Both needed to cut spending, but only one was willing to take on a sacred cow like education… which to me is an indicator of a serious conservative governor these days.”

    Dustin – Both governors balanced their budgets. Your conclusions about Massachusetts fiscal policy have been noticeably off the mark in the past, so leaving the state with a surplus, so why, other than your inexpert opinion, would you deem it necessary for Romney to cut education expenditures.

    Perry cut expected education expenditures substantially in the current budget. It looks great for somebody making a presidential run, plus he ran out of accounting gimmicks to cut elsewhere and the rainy day fund is already spoken for by bills he deferred to the next legislature, so there’s that.

    Keep the myths alive.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  72. “Obama’s campaign clearly wants Romney:”

    Sammy – They’ve been attacking him since last April. How long have they been attacking the other candidates?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  73. Probably true, Milhouse (Clinton being the possible exception).

    Clinton denied any impropriety until after his second election, and most voters believed him.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  74. “But the voters didn’t know about it when they elected these people. If he wins, Gingrich would be the first president whom people elected despite knowing him to be an adulterer.”

    Milhouse – Gingrinch would probably argue that dipping his pen in the ink of his Congressional Staff, never mind the potential legal complications of that, is not a problem and that he was just utilizing available resources for their highest and best purposes. It’s all about efficiency and Newt’s needs. The ends have always justified the means for Newt.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  75. People sometimes try to give Garfield as an exception, but that’s not true. Garfield was not ever suspected of adultery. Neither he nor the woman whose child he claimed were married. As for whether the child was actually his, or even could have been his, that’s an open question. He may simply have been doing an act of charity in providing for the child.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  76. All this parsing of the historical backgrounds and characters is mildly interesting but the decision for conservatives is, as ever: Who is Best Situated to Beat Obama?

    There’s no clear winner, not because any of these guys is horrible, they’re all great, but because Obama presents such a wealthy, weird, hypocritical target rich environment that it allows conservatives to relax and linger and contemplate the possibility that their personal favorite candidate could win.

    The MSM will go after the Republican nominee with long knives out, and that will be the primary attack machine since Obama has almost nothing to run on. Newt surged and is re-surging because he is the only candidate who can effectively neuter the MSM.

    AMartel (88c646)

  77. Obama’s campaign clearly wants Romney

    Yes they’ve told us that, so it must be true. If Newt takes the lead I wonder what they’ll say.
    /sarc

    Gerald A (b4fe48)

  78. 64. I really don’t get the point.

    This is a Rubicon we dare not cross? Should we elect a known philanderer we shall descend into unbridled depravity? Worse than sitting our kids in front of Sponge Bob while we do chores?

    The Germans are off the hook because they had no idea der Furher was a monster when they elected him?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  79. You really don’t get the point? It has something to do with electability.

    Gerald A (b4fe48)

  80. And why do they blame video games on everything?

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  81. What daleykos defines as a myth is what sane people would define as facts.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  82. Romney could have just cut education all by himself without the MA legislature’s approval?

    Ah what’s the point.

    Gerald A (b4fe48)

  83. 74. “Clinton denied any impropriety until after his second election, and most voters believed him.”

    Your opinion of your fellow man is amusing.

    I told everyone who would listen about Magic’s:
    Voting present record in congress, his appreticeship in Chicago, Ayers, Wright, the infanticide votes, the fraudulent Harvard Law Review fabulism, the Alinsky discipleship, etc.

    They just “wanted a change”.

    Knowledge and wisdom are as foreign to this people as the far side of the Moon.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  84. 64. I really don’t get the point.

    This is a Rubicon we dare not cross? Should we elect a known philanderer we shall descend into unbridled depravity? Worse than sitting our kids in front of Sponge Bob while we do chores?

    The Germans are off the hook because they had no idea der Furher was a monster when they elected him?

    Should Obama be reelected we’ll descend into unbridled depravity.

    Should Newt be elected, we’ll descend into bridled depravity.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  85. Daleyrocks, unfortunately my filter didn’t load properly.

    I’ve been filtering away your comments since you admitted you called me a liar despite thinking I was merely “unconsciously” mistaken… in other words, you’re the liar, daleyrocks. I had already expressed frustration with your dishonesty regarding Gardasil, which you called the needle of sex before emailing me to let me know you were just pretendingin order to make EPWJ mad. In other words, you say things you know aren’t true, and then call people you disagree with liars. so that’s why I usually do not pay attention to your comments.

    I was also frustrated with your comments that Perry and I are homosexuals. That’s homophobia and a dishonest attempt to keep myths alive, to use your terminology.

    Mitt left MA with a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. Your claim otherwise is BS. Romneycare has cost MA a tremendous amount of money, and was known to be unaffordable on day one, hence Romney asking for federal funding (Which he got because folks like Ted Kennedy needed a prototype for Obamacare to not fail quickly).

    So no, Romney sure as hell did not leave MA with a balanced budget if he signed Romneycare into law.

    Your conclusions about Massachusetts fiscal policy have been noticeably off the mark in the past, so leaving the state with a surplus, so why, other than your inexpert opinion, would you deem it necessary for Romney to cut education expenditures.

    A billion dollar budget gap before you even count Romneycare (which like Obamacare, was delayed in cost until the politicians fled) is hardly leaving a state with a surplus.

    You are actually being doubly dishonest here, daleyrocks. You already conceded my point about Romney increasing education spending. His state is horribly in debt, had a boon of capital gains tax revenue, and instead of paying down the debt, they grew the government hugely. Romney was a huge part of this growth.

    Perry cut expected education expenditures substantially in the current budget. It looks great for somebody making a presidential run, plus he ran out of accounting gimmicks to cut elsewhere and the rainy day fund is already spoken for by bills he deferred to the next legislature, so there’s that.

    This is BS. Perry cut education spending long before he was entertaining running for president. He even was sued over freezing it, then he cut it the next year. This was before Obama was even elected the first time.

    They’ve been saying that about the Rainy Day fund for ages… and maybe eventually that rainy day will come, so thank God Perry didn’t spend it yet. Texas has been hit with several disasters, they take their toll, but so far, cutting spending has been enough and services haven’t really gone down as a result. It’s just good basic conservative leadership.

    You have constantly acted like there’s nothing impressive about how Texas is governed, and you also said Perry was “chicago level corrupt” as you moaned that Perry was both gay and he used the “needle of sex” as though Gardasil is perverted.

    Really, there’s nothing I could say to properly capture my contempt for people like you, Daleyrocks. You pose as objective in order to smear and cultivate myths. You knowingly project your behavior and spinning onto those who prove you are wrong.

    There are a lot of ways you can spin the facts to pretend MA was governed as well, or even better, than Texas during the same period (or now), but it is obviously not the case. Now that Perry’s no longer a threat to Romney, you should at least be willing to preserve what remains the best argument for why conservatism is a better way than progressive policies. Texas’s job growth and economic growth are largely because businesses do better they aren’t suffering from red tape and regulations like Romneycare and Romney’s proposal for all companies to report to the state how many minorities work in which position.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  86. Dustin, I think it’s important to remember that Taxachussets has a way different legislature than Tejas.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  87. 80. Hardly. You and I are quite close on our understanding of the History of the Church, the Kerygma of our Faith, the core of our world view.

    We vary substantially on what to do with that knowledge.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  88. Romney could have just cut education all by himself without the MA legislature’s approval?

    Ah what’s the point.

    Comment by Gerald A

    Gerald, Romney ASKED FOR INCREASES IN EDUCATION SPENDING.

    Indeed, what’s the point of arguing whether Romney could have done the opposite of what he went out and led the way doing.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  89. Yes they’ve told us that, so it must be true. If Newt takes the lead I wonder what they’ll say.
    /sarc

    Comment by Gerald A

    Whether or not Obama thinks Romney is easier to beat (I think he probably does), the fact remains that if Obama loses, progressives who like the individual mandate, gun control, and Ted Kennedy’s version of pro choice will be more comfortable with Romney than they would be with Newt.

    Romney is more liberal than the other candidates, so liberals would prefer him.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  90. 85. “Should Obama be reelected we’ll descend into unbridled depravity”

    Well if you mean in shooting each other, possibly.

    A case has been made that the dislocation, suffering and harm to innocents in an inevitable and unavoidable clash of cultures can be significantly mitigated and curtailed by war.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  91. Not that anyone actually needs to know more, but here’s a discussion of
    Romney on Roe v Wade.

    Indeed, he’s done much more than say Roe v Wade is the current law. He’s said he wants to support it and sustain it. This is very consistent with Romney’s extreme liberal judicial nomination record (at least it’s extreme for a Republican… it’s normal for an Obama Democrat).

    Gerald, btw, Romney also didn’t have to pass his judicial nominees by the legislatures. That’s a common excuse, but Romney did a lot of this liberalism on his own. He then cooperated, or to use his term “collaborated” with liberal democrats. Of course, they would always go a little farther than the GOP governor… when the GOP’s leader moves 8 inches to the left, the democrats will have to move 9 inches. They don’t even have a choice in the matter, really.

    Did Romney fight the democrats, Chris Christie or Newt Gingrich style, taking up the bully pulpit, saying policies like Romneycare will bankrupt MA, and spending was so excessive, so the government must not grow?

    No. He instead led the state to grow the government at a time when taxes were booming. Both in cost and in intrusion into our choices (such as the choice to buy a gun or not have the right kind of health insurance).

    As a result, as a DIRECT result of this big government agenda, MA has had very, very poor job growth. Pathetic compared to Texas’s.

    Now, if you want to argue that Romney is more electable, but grant that he’s clearly also more liberal, that will make a lot more sense. I don’t think it’s fair to say Romney’s failure as governor is just because of the democrats. Sure, they wanted a slightly more left version of Romney’s agenda, but Romney didn’t have to start out negotiating how far left the state should go.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  92. I love the democraps accusing others of lacking moral fibers when they have no problem with drinking and cheating.

    Anyone who votes for Obama over Gingrich has no right to complain about idiocy.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  93. 85. Continuing: Why didn’t Lincoln just let the South secede? Was there any case to be made that the Union was insoluble?

    Wasn’t it rather that an intolerable situation would continue and probably worsen with the slave slave states continuing to press for expansion in the west, slaves escaping to the north, etc?

    In demanding a technocrat in Romany to manage the sinking ship, you are merely enforcing a breather. None of the underlying problems will be addressed.

    And at worst your choice will be exactly wrong if Europe dissolves and Iran goes to war rather than collapse(Note today EU announced they will no longer buy Iranian oil or trade on their behalf in EU markets).

    How well has autopilot worked over the last three?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  94. Dustin, I think it’s important to remember that Taxachussets has a way different legislature than Tejas.

    Comment by Steve

    It is, Steve.

    That is a mitigating point.

    However, it is not a complete defense, especially when Romney campaigned to govern as a liberal in many respects, and then indeed made a lot of liberal proposals.

    I also think he failed to even try to fight the left by pounding the podium on TV.

    But yes, the end result of many policies in MA was the democrats taking it farther than Romney wanted to.

    Here’s an example: the “gun fee” (or tax or fine if you’re more honest) for each gun was $25 when Romney took office. Romney wanted to boost it to $75. The democrats wanted to boost it to $100 and Romney didn’t really fight that.

    So who is responsible for the $100 gun fee? I think Romney is largely responsible for negotiating to the left, but it’s more complex.

    This is arguably minor compared to Romneycare, where Romney gave up a ton (from a conservative POV… not from Romney’s) and then the democrats, once the door was open and the “conservative” position was that degree of control of economic choices, ran wild.

    On day one, the law Romney signed gave heavy subsidized health care and free care, including to illegals, and it also funded abortion. But since then, the democrats have taken it even farther.

    So who is to blame, Steve?

    Honestly, I don’t think either democrats or Romney get the other off the hook. I also think blame is as important as the real question for conservatives: Will Romney win fights against the democrats to save the US budget, overcome unfunded entitlements, preserve rights, etc?

    The answer is clearly no. That’s what really matters. When people note that the democrats were powerful, it’s not a very effective response because the democrats are powerful now in DC. Even in the minority, the big government interest on both sides of the aisle will be something that is very tough to fight.

    I think Newt is the only guy left standing with a record of doing it well.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  95. I also don’t think blame is as important as the real question for conservatives:

    Sorry, Steve. That’s what I meant.

    My complaining about Romney isn’t about blaming him. If MA wants to be a hellhole, that’s fine with me. They have a horrible debt, oppressive ind. mandate, high murder rate… but I don’t go there. I just ask that the feds don’t subsidize it.

    What I’m complaining about is that Romney’s excuses for his MA performance are the same excuses he would offer for his DC performance. I want something better.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  96. 96. And on top of all that their term for Romany is Mittwit.

    MA is a frog in a pot on the range.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  97. btw, just want to note, I don’t have any problem at all with people trying to be fair to Mitt, as Gerald and Steve are.

    But I definitely think Mitt’s record sucks. Compared to Rick Perry’s, it’s pathetic, but that ship has sailed.

    And it’s not like Perry hasn’t also had to fight hard for conservatism here in Texas. He was one of the first major GOP politicians in the modern era, actually, and he’s had fights with both parties. Unfortunately, he just doesn’t bring the showbiz factor needed for a national campaign, and few noticed the substance.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  98. Gerald, Romney ASKED FOR INCREASES IN EDUCATION SPENDING.

    If that’s true I stand corrected. You have a link?

    I would probably prefer Newt over Romney if I had my druthers but I don’t see him beating O.

    Gerald A (b4fe48)

  99. Seen at a comment thread at Gateway:

    Didn’t Ronaldus Magnus Reagan have some relationship shenanigans on Jane Wyman?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  100. Jaysus, who cares who you have a problem with, Dustin? Your lack of good faith and dishonest posting poisons nearly everything you comment on.

    Now filter away, manchild.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  101. If MA wants to be a hellhole, that’s fine with me.

    LOL.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  102. If that’s true I stand corrected. You have a link?

    Fair request. I’ll have to dig it back up. I presented it to Daleyrocks and he agreed that Romney had called for an increase in this agency (At the time, I was explaining this as a simple point of difference between Perry and Romney’s directions).

    I don’t see him beating O.

    It’s hard to say and everyone is entitled to their estimation on that. It’s one thing to say “well, Romney is not as conservative, but I think things are so bad that he’s the most conservative who can win” and quite another to say “well, Texas and MA are run the same anyway, and Romney is actually totally conservative according to this weird analysis that was created solely to suggest this completely silly point no one believes”.

    You’re in the former camp, and I respect that, but I disagree.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  103. “Unfortunately, he [Perry] just doesn’t bring the showbiz factor needed for a national campaign, and few noticed the substance.”

    “Showbiz factor”? The man couldn’t string two sentences together. All hat, no cattle. Sounds familiar.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  104. Gay Marriage is a civil right.

    Muslims hanging gays is their civil right.

    /Michael Bloomingidiot

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  105. Eff off elitist jackass.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  106. Marianne is even tackier than Callista I think plus she brings the crazy in a large casserole dish and like 25 years later she wants her dish back but you already gave it back 25 years ago but she doesn’t believe you and she won’t stop calling and sometimes she cries

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  107. If you start at “Agenda” on page 18 you can learn a lot about how Romney wanted to govern. There is a long list of new education spending Romney put on his agenda.

    What’s interesting is the primary problem this budget was supposed to solve was MA’s awful debt. Of course, Romney inherited that, but so did his successor because even though MA took in a ton of increased tax revenue, they grew government at approximately that same rate… and then the boom ended.

    Also, this entire document is very interesting in how it discusses tax increases (using weasel words like ‘closing the loopholes’).

    Wikipedia claims that Romney also wanted $8 billion in bonds to spend on education, but wikipedia is a terrible source for political info and I don’t know if that’s true. That’s an insane figure.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  108. Romney once groped some elderly persons butt……….CNN will interview the 84 year old in order to get his opinion on such a heart-breaking ordeal.

    I hate Obama but he sings pretty good.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  109. Here’s one more display of the “Weakness of Newt”. Perhaps even more flagrant than providing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, as was a certain failed candidate’s policy:

    http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/20/newts-weakest-spot/

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  110. 109. Haven’t found much on Wyman/Reagan’s relationship. She married, RR, her third hubby at 25. She divorced him for mental cruelty.

    Refused to comment on the man until he passed, calling him a “great president, a kind and gentle man”.

    Guess were not dealing with the same cut of cloth here folks.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  111. Case in point:

    Ann says Mitt had to teach her how to change diapers.

    Seems the baths in France don’t always have toilets. They often have those funny drinking fountains tho.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  112. Nancy Pelosi once had an open marriage and wanted to marry Barbera ”BabaWawa Walters………..CNN will have more on this story when pigs fly out of peoples butt.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  113. Colonel how many times do you have to flog yourself?

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  114. Guess were not dealing with the same cut of cloth here folks.

    Sadly, we aren’t.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  115. “well, Texas and MA are run the same anyway, and Romney is actually totally conservative according to this weird analysis that was created solely to suggest this completely silly point no one believes”.

    Dustin – You are the only person I have seen say the above. Where you concocted it, I’ll never know.

    Righteously Angry Daniels/Perry/Gingrich Fan (bf33e9)

  116. Wonder what Carol and Marianne’s respective shares of the $20K in alimony might be?

    Guesses? Anyone?

    Well they say you can buy IPods with food stamps so there’s a safety net.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  117. Stew, Glenn Beck’s associate, had an interesting take on how McCain and Gingrich operate, which explains how they succeed, McCain sells it ‘his base’ in the press, whereas Gingrich works with
    the real base in the GOP,

    narciso (87e966)

  118. Carol is McCain’s first wife, Jackie was Newt’s

    narciso (87e966)

  119. Dustin – You are the only person I have seen say the above. Where you concocted it, I’ll never know.

    Comment by Righteously Angry Daniels/Perry/Gingrich Fan

    Who am I talking to?

    Dustin (7362cd)

  120. 119. Oh. Well Carol gets nothing then, Thanks.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  121. “I was also frustrated with your comments that Perry and I are homosexuals. That’s homophobia and a dishonest attempt to keep myths alive, to use your terminology.”

    Dustin – If you have a comment where I called you a homosexual, please provide it.

    You can also continue to misrepresent the history of comments with EPWJ. I say that makes you a liar. I’m happy to post that history here once again.

    Righteously Angry Daniels/Perry/Gingrich Fan (bf33e9)

  122. “Who am I talking to?”

    Guess. Sock now off.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  123. I’d rather be at the mercy of John King than King John.

    Amphipolis (e01538)

  124. #112… gulrud, you used that two months ago and it didn’t get any funnier.

    I’d say fire your writer, but who needs one more unemployed person, eh?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  125. “No. He instead led the state to grow the government at a time when taxes were booming.”

    Dustin – Seriously? Taxes were booming?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  126. Hey, I’m so out of touch, how many bystanders died in the hail of machine gun fire returning to earth in the celebration on Chicago streets following the demise of the Cheeseheads?

    Torched cars?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  127. Guess. Sock now off.

    Comment by daleyrocks —

    I see. Sorry to see you being so trashy in the sockpuppet threads.

    Seeing no problem with trashing the wives of political candidates. Par for the course for you, troll.

    You are disgusting and I have nothing to say to you.

    Dustin – Seriously? Taxes were booming?

    Tax revenues soared, yes. Cap gains particularly. And yes, Romney increased a lot of taxes. You have admitted it in the past, but play sophist.

    But who cares what you say? You said Perry was gay and Gardasil was perverted. You’re a real bastard.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  128. 125. Oh, but there’s a subtle twist, not the same punch line.

    Everyone’s a critic, like I get paid to do this dive.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  129. daley? Badge. Of. Honor.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  130. on second thought, I guess I have no idea if daley was the same sock who trashed Newt’s wife or the sock who said there was nothing wrong with it.

    But I do know Daley has presented some of the nastiest and most dishonest attacks this blog has ever seen, so I don’t really care.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  131. You shall be filtered, daley, for he shall not be mocked.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  132. You don’t know sh*t, FilterManChild, and you prove it on a daily basis.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  133. You can also continue to misrepresent the history of comments with EPWJ. I say that makes you a liar. I’m happy to post that history here once again.

    Comment by Righteously Angry Daniels/Perry/Gingrich Fan

    Disgusting. And no, I’m not lying about any of it. You said I was gay, you said Perry was gay, and you know that was a popular whisper campaign about Perry. It had nothing to do with EPWJ. You also told me in private you were pretending gardasil was horrible in public because you wanted to get EPWJ back… basically you thought EPWJ’s attacks were awful so you learned the wrong lesson and emulated it.

    You should just apologize. You don’t see me responding to this crap by trashing Mitt’s sexuality or personal life. Why? Because I’m better than that. I just criticize his record and the sophistry attempting to forgive it.

    I also am not hiding my political allegiances to pose as objective after proving I’m not.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  134. all the lutefisk you can eat, Ole.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  135. Newt is so great at calling out despicable political attacks from supposed objective folks with excuses.

    Note how CNN has many of the same excuses we hear about those who intentionally got dirty in trashing Perry. ‘Oh, there’s context you need to present in a way that forgives me for being so nasty! It was meant to be funny!’

    Sickening.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  136. “Mitt left MA with a $1.3 billion budget shortfall.”

    Dustin – That’s where the actual deficit came out, that’s not where it stood when Romney left office. Once again, this is an item that has been pointed out to you many times over. At the time the budget was passed it was balanced. In November of 2006, his next to last month in office, Romney made $425 of budget cuts to rebalance the budget due to estimated revenue shortfalls rather than raiding the rainy day fund. Rebalancing the budget is one of the only times the governor can unilaterally make budget cuts under the Massachusetts constitution. The legislature wanted to raid the the surplus fund. The shortfall was ultimately greater than expected.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  137. “You said I was gay”

    Dustin – Prove it

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  138. Since I know that Newt – in the interest of transparency – would not want to withhold all info of interest, here’s the complete House Ethics Probe:

    http://ethics.house.gov/committee-report/matter-representative-newt-gingrich

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  139. “I also am not hiding my political allegiances to pose as objective after proving I’m not.”

    Dustin – No, you have been on an anti-Romney jihad since the summer of 2010 when you were schooled on his involvement in the Olympics and Bain. You have a bias against rich people that you attempt to cloak with other arguments, but your class warfare sentiments keep seeping through. Honest and objective are things you have been far from in this process.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  140. This is why I’ve been ignoring the trolls. I’m sure they are constantly bashing me, but it’s better than even bothering to reply to them. They said nasty stuff and they aren’t sorry.

    But don’t you dare explain a good faith criticism of Romney’s record. For some reason, trashing Perry as gay or as a pervert is not as bad as calling Romney’s record quite liberal.

    Go figure.

    Narciso, that’s an amazing link. I guess I should stop being surprised by the despicable tactics of the liberals and their fanboys.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  141. 140. Not that I hope to learn on first hand, do you suppose Mephistopheles will enforce a code of ethics on his turf?

    If so Maxine Waters would be a perfect fit. Sheila Jackson Lee as the brains behind the throne.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  142. I denounce myself as racist. Bad Goober.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  143. Note how CNN has many of the same excuses we hear

    Worms… AGAIN!

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  144. jimgeraghty: “Newt’s poll bump suggests S.C. Republicans kinda want to beat Obama, but they really want to beat Juan Williams and John King.”

    RameshPonnuru MT @StevenJDuffield: Only 24% of women have fav view of Newt Gingrich, and that’s from 8 days ago. Q8; pg 20 crosstab. http://t.co/Lzskn9QP

    allahpundit Devastating RT @conncarroll: America hates Newt Gingrich http://t.co/RsdwXXK8

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  145. “You said I was gay”

    Dustin – Prove it

    Comment by daleyrocks

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    daley… just to be clear here… what are you asking him to do to prove it?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  146. allahpundit: “Lot of grumbling from Newt fans about those favorables. Apologies for citing relevant poll data”

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  147. When you can’t sell it to one of your cheerleaders;

    http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/288798/re-re-make-your-mind-newt-mark-steyn

    narciso (87e966)

  148. Predictable Steyn. Yawn.

    Billy Cobham (44de53)

  149. Turn in your man cards Princess fans, Chuck Norris endorses Neut.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  150. 124. John Sununu thank you so much for coming on down to Dixie to stand by your man.

    Squeal like a pig, little buddy.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  151. 150. The Canuck preferred T-Paw in the early going, before Michele spanked his pink bottom.

    Didn’t disk jockey pay?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  152. No, he was much more of a Bachmann partisan at the outset.

    narciso (87e966)

  153. “Newt surged and is re-surging because he is the only candidate who can effectively neuter the MSM.”

    That’s a powerful argument in his favor that deserves attention — regardless of Newt’s personal flaws.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  154. 155. Was not, was not, was not.

    Before Cheri decided Sully would drag her uterus before the nation he was talking Pawlenty:

    http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-steyn-sarah-palin-a-better-king-maker-than-gop-candidate/

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  155. Sorry Brother, 154, don’t know what my prob is with numbers.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  156. Yes, but earlier on, he was more for Bachmann, I’m a little ticked at that, after all, look at the wonderful alternatives that emerged, sarc.

    councilwoman cheh (87e966)

  157. Obviously Cheri made the right call. Besides the Penguin has a desk job as long as he denies knowing Barbour.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  158. ‘Mr. Gingrich met the question with cold anger, winning roars of approval from the debate audience as he said through nearly clenched teeth, “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”’

    Don’t go around cheating on your multiple wives, and you won’t have to deal with these embarrassing situations.

    Dumbass.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  159. Squeal like a pig, little buddy.

    Comment by gary gulrud

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Are you missing any teeth, gulrud? Let me put it another way… do you play banjo?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  160. “Newt surged and is re-surging because he is the only candidate who can effectively neuter the MSM.”

    That’s a powerful argument in his favor that deserves attention — regardless of Newt’s personal flaws.

    I agree. We’ve seen the full influence and power of the MSM with regard to their cocooning the president and deference given to him – whether because of political ideology or the color his skin. A fallacy of bifurcation there, so perhaps it is indeed, both.

    There is a tenuous balancing act necessary for whoever the nominee is – be fearless in smacking down the media when necessary, yet at the same time do it with a confident ease.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  161. Romney picked up another couple of endorsements: Rob Portman and Bob McDonnell.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  162. “look at the wonderful alternatives that emerged,”

    Well the fat lady isn’t in her corset yet so who knows if we couldn’t have the first YouTube assault on the parapets.

    But Neut has a belly full.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  163. “Jonah, Andy, I’m with you guys. Does Newt have an “open marriage” with John King? He gets to slap him around on TV, but after the show he’s all kissy-kissy with him? I’ve sat through too many third-rate nights on Broadway not to recognize the difference between cheap manipulative ersatz indignation and the real thing.”

    http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/288798/re-re-make-your-mind-newt-mark-steyn

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  164. Colonel- What would you do without the bootlickers at nro?

    sickofrinos (44de53)

  165. Actually Steyn has been quite balanced about the Romney paradox and the Newt sojourn.

    narciso (87e966)

  166. Such rich irony that self-righteously embittered Marianne Gingrich attempts to end Newt’s campaign by accusing him of vile behavior by requesting an open marriage with her, all the while she herself had an affair with a still married Newt!

    She’s a homewrecker, he’s a philanderer. Both are practiced in the art of deception.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  167. narciso- your right, but am still waiting for some of them to go off the reservation.

    sickofrinos (44de53)

  168. We need some leadership from the RNC in trying to limit additional debates at some point. It would be one thing if they were revealing or took on the current issues facing the nation, but increasingly, they steer the discussion away from the important stuff… issues like the economy, Solyndra and the other bogus “green” dominoes waiting to fail, Iran, outright hostility toward Israel, end-runs around Congress by Obama, etc.

    In other words, they divert attention away from all of the failures of this administration. We need to smarten up.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  169. Dana, good to see you’re still here.

    And for those who are feuding, I beseech you, please exercise some mutual charity* and tone it down a bit.

    Pretty please?

    *At least until Nov. 6.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  170. I’d probably go kick me some farmboy ass, sicko… why do you ask?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  171. WEll remember she auditioned her act, in Esquire,
    where Clinton’s self satisfied mug, now glowers on the cover.

    narciso (87e966)

  172. or at least ask you to go fetch your shoeshine kit.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  173. _____________________________________________

    I am told by my more liberal friends that while they don’t like Newt on policy grounds, they don’t think the marital stuff is very interesting.

    I should hope so since the left has the excess baggage of Bill Clinton, among others, weighing down their side of the political aisle. Moreover, the left truly would be two-faced to be indignant about Gingrich’s peccadilloes since many liberals buy into the ethos of do-your-own-thang and if-it-feels-good-do-it.

    The moment that stood out to me last night was not Gingrich’s reaction to King’s question, but Romney’s goofy smiley-face reaction when asked whether he was going to release more of his tax returns.

    Mark (411533)

  174. Hi Bradley,

    I’ve been following along…just haven’t had anything worthwhile to contribute. Lately it seems things disintegrated to a silly slapfest, which was disappointing because the usually savvy, smart and insightful commentators started to take themselves a bit too seriously, got too big for their britches, and then, all of a sudden the fun was gone.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  175. “She’s a homewrecker, he’s a philanderer. Both are practiced in the art of deception.”

    Yeah, you can tell by their blood-stained hands.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  176. Colonel- The nro frustrates the hell out of me. How can we be so far apart on a candidate but have the same goals in mind?

    sickofrinos (44de53)

  177. __________________________________________

    *At least until Nov. 6.

    I sometimes want to sling arrows at the Republican candidates, but nothing makes me more irritated than when I think of who’s currently in the White House, that being President “Goddamn America.” Speaking of which, good going, doofus Barry, in refusing to allow the Keystone pipeline project to move forward.

    Mark (411533)

  178. John Sununu is the guy who got Bush to put Souter on to the Supreme Court. That and the lips tax, which Gingrich opposed. Sununu blames Gingrich for Bush’s loss in 1992 because of that, but HW’s own spending spree and a pissed-off Ross Perot seem more to blame. When a sitting Republican president gets a 3rd party challenger running to his right on fiscal policy (who gets nearly 1 vote in 5) he maybe shoulda spent less.

    Kevin M (563f77)

  179. “or at least ask you to go fetch your shoeshine kit.”

    Don’t say that to Joe Pesci. He gets really irritated.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  180. Shout out to Surls, for giving us what we need… laughter!

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  181. _____________________________________________

    He gets to slap him around on TV, but after the show he’s all kissy-kissy with him?

    That’s a hint at just how innately squishy Gingrich probably is. But not just in terms of how he approaches purely social matters (which, after all, is an understandable modus operandi among mature adults), but ideological ones too.

    Mark (411533)

  182. Hey, if you look at the antics of the Three Stooges (Barack, Newt and Mitt) and don’t start laughing…you’re taking life way too seriously.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  183. they’re not all Romneyacs at NRO, sickof rinos, they’re spread fairly evenly between the other candidates. I hit the Corner several times each day… good reading.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  184. It’s beyond Python, quite close to the kids in the Hall, in absurdity,

    narciso (87e966)

  185. Except for McCarthy and Steyn, who else is not a Mitt man.

    narciso (87e966)

  186. yeah but if you try
    sometime yeah you just might find
    you get whatcha need

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  187. Now ya got me jonesin’ for The Stones!

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  188. “It’s beyond Python”

    Toss in the real loons, like Bachmann and Paul, and you’re talking Marx Brothers PLUS Monty Python funny.

    This election campaign ought to be called Monty Python and the Holy Duck Soup.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  189. Foster, Goldberg, Trinko, Murdock, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Krikorian, Levin, Charen, to name a few.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  190. Ya can’t always get what you wants.

    But, if ya try sometime, ya can probably get into Newty’s pants.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  191. Yeah, you can tell by their blood-stained hands.

    Heh.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  192. But, if ya try sometime, ya can probably get into Newty’s pants.

    Comment by Dave Surls

    Probably easier than that fat, little fook can.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  193. Q: How does Newt put his pants on?

    A: One Virginia ham at a time.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  194. 180. TransCanada is now talking about finishing the American leg, which they can do without LeninWanabee, and hope to get the crossborder link later.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  195. And for those who are feuding, I beseech you, please exercise some mutual charity* and tone it down a bit.

    Pretty please?

    *At least until Nov. 6.

    Comment

    It’s great to hear from you, Bradley. I’ll do my best to avoid the feuding in the future, out of respect for you and the other commenters who warrant it.

    But it is aggravating seeing legitimate policy criticism reacted to with such ridiculous hostility from people who are willing to trash candidates and their supporters in ways that aren’t even legitimate… just stupid nastiness. It’s happened over and over in the GOP for many years, and I’m really sick of it.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  196. What I can’t figure out is is why all these dames were lining up to do the horizontal bop with a pontificating, hypocritical, butterball, like Newt.

    I mean, what’s the attraction?

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  197. out of respect for you and the other commenters who warrant it.

    I certainly hope I’m on that list, Dustin. I’m getting awfully tired of popping in,reading, and popping out with a deep sigh.

    Surls, Power. And an overconfident belief in that power. Perhaps smarts, too… women seem to want to be with a man smarter than themselves. They like the challenge.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  198. Well, you kinda have to admire the guy.

    He’s going in with pick-up lines like “I think we should have adulterous sex, and we better do it quick, before the Godless, secular atheists destroy American morality!”, and all these Christian babes were buying it, and doing the dirty deed with a guy who looks like Mr. Potato Head having a bad hair day.

    The man must have Svengali-like mind control powers.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  199. waren’t good enuf
    waren’t smart enuf and durn it
    people dint like him

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  200. No that’s probably Ensign’s gig, who had his mistresses family, paid off. Sanford with this baroque poetry to the Argentine paramour,

    narciso (87e966)

  201. Yes, Al Franken is in the Senate, a sign Darwin was mistaken, but Barnum was right on point.

    narciso (87e966)

  202. too legit to quit
    but he went home anyways
    and they hate losers

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  203. On the See BS evening news tonight they reported that due to some kind of organizational snafu with the Gingrich campaign a planned rally today had to be canceled because almost no one showed up. This kind of thing should not be happening. Of course it was See BS but I don’t think they were making that up.

    Gerald A (b4fe48)

  204. Santorum had the same “poor attendance” issue, Gerald. I think it was just the forum and who was hosting.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  205. Ouch…

    Delusional

    “What is it about this primary season that causes Republicans to go around the bend? The current beneficiary of the “anyone but Romney” mania is Newt Gingrich, who may actually win the South Carolina primary tomorrow. I find that astonishing. Gingrich has been mostly out of the public view since he retired from Congress 13 years ago. The most surprising feature of this endlessly surprising political year is that, at age 68, Gingrich has made a comeback.

    It is hard to make clear-cut statements about the mercurial and often contradictory Gingrich, but one thing we can say with absolute certainty: he will never be President of the United States. Put aside the fact that he lasted only four years as Speaker of the House before resigning in disgrace, leaving Congress with an approval rating around 15%. Forget that he was the father of the earmark. Never mind his notorious lack of self-control and his attacks on free enterprise. Those are all worthy topics for another day, but for the moment let’s just focus on the allegations by Newt’s second ex-wife that hit the press this week. Apart from all the other good reasons why Gingrich will never be President, Marianne Gingrich’s sensational allegations snuffed out any possible hope that Newt can beat Barack Obama in 2012…”

    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/01/delusional.php

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  206. “…due to some kind of organizational snafu with the Gingrich campaign a planned rally today had to be canceled because almost no one showed up.”

    They should offer gift certificates to any woman that’s had adulterous relations with Newty.

    That ought to draw some crowds.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  207. “Gingrich has been mostly out of the public view since he retired from Congress 13 years ago.”

    You would be too, if you spent half your time sneaking out of motel rooms.

    Dave Surls (46b08c)

  208. Really, Hastert did such a bangup job, that he lost
    the House, eight years later, although not before
    Delay was forced out. who wrote the hideous Ag bills
    in the 00s. who spiked the level of spending.

    narciso (87e966)

  209. King of Motel 6
    they always kept their socks on
    we’ll leave the light on

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  210. Newt and Tom Bodett
    had a sweetheart arrangement
    at No Tell Motel

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  211. Lets not focus on such spurious garbage, specially since the author of them, was ill disposed to him seeking higher office, sixteen years ago, four years
    before the supposed ‘open marriage’ line, ad to that
    that she filed papers, eight years before that.

    narciso (87e966)

  212. Colonel has memory seared in his brain of his one night stay at The Dingiest Motel 6 in the World (Las Vegas) on his way back home from Lake Powell houseboat vacation.

    It involved a Spanish girl, a goat, mas tequila and 50 feet of rope.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  213. you would file too if it happened to you… dut dut dut dut dut.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  214. 85. Continuing: Why didn’t Lincoln just let the South secede? Was there any case to be made that the Union was insoluble?

    Wasn’t it rather that an intolerable situation would continue and probably worsen with the slave slave states continuing to press for expansion in the west, slaves escaping to the north, etc?

    In demanding a technocrat in Romany to manage the sinking ship, you are merely enforcing a breather. None of the underlying problems will be addressed.

    And at worst your choice will be exactly wrong if Europe dissolves and Iran goes to war rather than collapse(Note today EU announced they will no longer buy Iranian oil or trade on their behalf in EU markets).

    How well has autopilot worked over the last three?

    Comment by gary gulrud — 1/20/2012 @ 2:28 pm

    Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. Somebody blew a racist dog whistle and I had to run out and answer it. (Just kidding, DHS, just kidding.)

    I went back and looked at the earlier posts and I may have mistaken what you meant.

    Although I have to say I’m still not quite sure about what you were driving at when you asked that question about are the Germans off the hook for Hitler.

    Anyways, I’m definitely not demanding Mitt Romney. I don’t care for the guy. Especially how he tries to pass off his individual mandate as somehow conservative.

    Basically I took it that you were joining the amen chorus about how Newt’s lack of a moral compass somehow disqualifies him to be President.

    My attitude is, if anybody’s personal moral compass won’t let them vote for Newt if he should be the GOP nominee because they don’t want to tell their kids they voted for an adulterer, I sincerely hope they frequently remind their kids of that.

    Tell them often that you sold them into serfdom and would rather your daughters become what the Cubans call jineteras than compromise your principles and mark your ballot for such a sinner.

    That’ll make them far more willing if not actually eager to accept the decision when the ObamaCare death squad tells them that you’re more trouble than you’re worth and the gub’mint ain’t gonna spend another penny on your medical care. If at that point we’ve descended to the level that euthanasia is legal, they may flip a coin to select the lucky winner who can hand you the poison pill in a paper cup along with a glass of water and say “Here, drink drink this (you old fart) and you’ll (maybe not you, but definitely me) will feel better.”

    Then they all will go back to work a little lighter at heart to the “happiest place on Earth” hustling for tips from those rich Brazilians and, if they’re young and good looking enough, arranging to meet them later in a public restroom to earn a little extra.

    I think you misunderstood what I meant by unbridled vs bridled depravity.

    My emphasis was more on the bridle than the depravity.

    The bridle is one of the tools that allow you to control the horse.

    The MFM sold the country a horse called Sweetness back in 2008. Sweetness was so sweet, you didn’t need extraneous crap like reins or stirrups. Just hold on to the mane and Sweetness would take you where you wanted to go. Sweetness turned out to be a nasty piece of work.

    Sweetness bites.

    So now the media is saying, “Oh, no, you don’t want to trade in Sweetness for any of the horses left for rent. The only horses left for rent are named Widowmaker, Satan, RomneyCare, and Depravity.”

    Throw a saddle on it and I’ll take my chances.

    Steve (1f4b7c)

  215. Why do the homophobic left make such a thing about gay catholic pedophile priests?

    /lefty logic turned back on them

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  216. so Romney is gonna lose hyper-christian SC to a serial adulterer who marries crazy women?

    I didn’t see this coming.

    How fun is this?

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  217. 162. Good link. Decent candidate, campaigner, not so much.

    219. “I’m still not quite sure about what you were driving at when you asked that question about are the Germans off the hook for Hitler.”

    79. Is in reply to Milhouse at 64. Rather than examine history to verify the assertion that Newt is the first known adulterer, its an attempt to just take the thinking to its logical conclusion.

    We are all human, I for one know a little about sin. I don’t walk down dark alley’s with bills hanging out of my pants, but my carefully considered estimate of men is thus:

    We most fear the evil that lurks in our own hearts.

    Personally, Dana has the motivator, power. That is what keeps the Clintons together. That is what drove Neut and his second wife apart. She lost respect for him–the most crucial desire of men–when he bailed on the House.

    He lost his love for her–the woman’s critical need–when she lost confidence in him.

    Whatever their Maker might assess their eternal worth to be, this sort of tragedy, insurmountable differences, is a very common outcome in Amerikkka, and most divorced persons marry and divorce again.

    So, you have your bridge too far, I have mine. I can’t take yours seriously. To me Neut is a changed man, and that’s that.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  218. Eff Leno.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  219. Newt looks like a bulldog but Pelosi is sexy.

    Like I said if Pelosi had a sex tape with Soros I’d get the eye bleach if I were Pelousy’s daughter.

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  220. he’s waited for so long
    but now everybody knows
    this is Newt’s moment

    Newt’s moment

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  221. That’s an interesting argument, gary, if she hadn’t said to VF, that she could end his campaign with a single interview,

    narciso (87e966)

  222. back in 1995,

    narciso (87e966)

  223. gingrich is the word is the word is the word that you heard

    it’s got groove it’s got feelin’

    and a crazy-ass ex-wife to boot!

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  224. Good news, pikachu, there’s the semblance of a penumbra of a hope, that Daniels might emerge from
    his rabbitwarren, maybe.

    narciso (87e966)

  225. 226, 227. Duh. Well its a rough draft, we can fix it with a little massaging, just get some actual evidence consistent with their timeline.

    Maybe tomorrow. Damn.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  226. It’s not that strange a rationale for both their actions,

    narciso (87e966)

  227. yes I heard Mr. Mitch was gonna give the SOTU response

    I hope he talks about the red menace some more

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  228. Guess maybe I should start here:

    http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/08/an-unabridged-guide-to-all-of-newt-gingrichs-wives

    Look out Joe McGinniss.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  229. Golly, what dreck, “meet-cute”, Dowd’s influence?

    Fable, he presented divorce papers to Battley en hopital while she was recovering from uterine cancer.

    Editor “Bisek carried on a six-year affair with Gingrich while he was married to Battley Ginther”, i.e., beginning during the combatant’s separation.

    Better look for Costa’s 1999 article.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  230. mr. gingrich sowing the seeds of sowing the seeds of love

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  231. yes, the same folks who cry out for an understanding hand toward Jon Corzine, and MF Global. who cobble together an oral history of
    the Occupy movement, while their high end advertisers get more and more selective.

    narciso (87e966)

  232. Will Chuckles accuse Newt Gingrich of being an agent of Vlaams Belang and an agent of anti-muslim hate?

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  233. More:

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/boyernewt1.html

    1984 Marianne was running a ‘partnership’ involving a book deal that got Newt in serious doodoo.

    ‘For Gingrich, politics is his profession, his sport, and his hobby, and his private life is pretty dull. He and Marianne have never been regulars on the party circuit, they have no children, and they have no pets –because Newt is partial to reptiles. Marianne says she has only one friend in Washington, and much prefers her life back in Georgia: “I find Washington an extremely cynical, transitional, unstable place –it’s not an easy place.”‘

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  234. Chuck Norris endorsed Huckabee in 2008. He doesn’t exactly pick winners.

    Icy (d7eedf)

  235. I’m down with Riehl.

    Say what you want about Gingrich, one can look at his record and see someone who actually was once involved in some serious reform of the right kind in Washington. I watched the debate last night and all the others, sorry, but Santorum does not impress in this regard. I’m sure he’s a fine man and I have resisted criticizing him, but that dog won’t hunt, most especially in any general election. So, get over it.

    Conservatives now have but one horse to ride; otherwise, you may as well saddle up with Mitt and head off into the sunset with whatever you think is a genuine form of conservatism. Romney is not going to expend one iota of political capital selling it, or fighting for it, because he doesn’t believe in it. He is as elitist and out of touch with the working class that empowers Reagan conservatism as is Obama. And he’s damn near as progressive in terms of government being the answer to everything, as long as he’s the one who gets to make the decisions. That’s not conservatism. It’s bullshit.

    We’re in a fight to save what remains of the vision we have of America as conservatives. Whatever he’s done, or not done, we can tell that Gingrich appreciates that particular vision. He is also showing himself to be an effective fighter. However he got there – the people that have voted decided it, not me – that’s where he is. And he’s demonstrating a willingness to fight for conservatism, but some of you bad-asses are afraid to fight for and with him?

    The hell with you, punch your ticket and scurry to the back of the GOP’s big government line like the losers that you actually are. I went into 2012 looking for a fight for the right reasons and the right cause – and as it stands today, there’s only one guy left standing who looks anything like close to suitable to mix it up on our and conservatism’s behalf. And, dammit, I’m going to fight with him, not run away like a coward because I want to look politically correct, or smart.

    And then he gets angry.

    Kevin M (563f77)

  236. America is in deep decline. While in past decades I would have been concerned with Newts morality I must ignore this flaw at this time. Newt is the visionary America needs NOW.

    Dennis D (55ba3e)

  237. 227. I retract “when he bailed on the House” at 222, second note.

    Bolton:

    “First, there is an infinitesimally small chance that Mr. Romney will self-destruct in September or October. “No-drama Obama,” meet your match. Second, Mr. Romney has the overwhelming lead in endorsements from Republican senators and representatives—the most aware, self-interested community, bar none, regarding our nominee’s electability. No propensity there to grandiosity or suicide. Third, Mr. Romney shares one of Reagan’s most important and attractive characteristics: being critical without being angry or scornful.”

    First, Mr. Romney is undisciplined in his own way, not listening to criticism, running against the base, pandering to Progressives. That he will not step in it with a catastrophic blunder is hardly winning.

    Second, the Established are unquestionably the enemy, what are you thinking John, you had a career?

    Third, we knew Ronald, Willard is no Ronald Regan. Ronald was sanguine, acute, compelling, relentless. Reducing that to ‘not scornful’ is disingenuous.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  238. 242. Definitive.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  239. 241. He didn’t have one to pick from then either.

    We’re down to a “If we’re really, really lucky.” and two nags.

    Like Laura says, the Established are great at staying in power, that’s what they do well.

    Newt is a threat, but only just. Romney or Santorum losing does not slacken their grip at all.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  240. “Yes, the liberal media is displaying an extraordinary hypocrisy in how they are treating Newt Gingrich vs. how they treated Bill Clinton and even Barack Obama (not investigating Jeremiah Wright and so on). BUT so are conservatives. They have long made the case that character counts, and private lives matter. Gingrich is being so arrogant and defiant in the wake of the latest charges against him, given how much he’s admitted is actually true, it’s ugly. Social conservatives who support him are embarrassing their own cause.”

    – Noted social conservative columnist Betsy Canfield Hart

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  241. I was favorably impressed with Gingrich’s daughters on Laura’s show. They’re not just in his court they are working with him.

    Evidently, happily once married.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  242. It ain’t about forgiveness, folks. It’s about trust.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  243. 246. “They have long made the case that character counts, and private lives matter”

    Nothing buttery.

    I would have preferred Palin, no sweeping intellect but character in boatloads.

    Romney possessing that sort of character? Because he’s faithful to his wife?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  244. Well MassCare is the pig in the Python,

    narciso (87e966)

  245. 248. Word.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  246. And yet the people in Massachusetts like it by an overwhelming margin. So there’s that.

    But Romney has no plans on pushing that on the country. He has made a commitment to rid us of ObamaCare.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  247. There’s really not much difference on major issues that separates the three candidates.

    If you think Gingrich has the presence and personality that will carry him to an election, you should disabuse yourself of that notion. He does not.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  248. Yes, and they voted to reelect Patrick, and they seem sweet on ‘Red Liz’ Warren,

    narciso (87e966)

  249. “not angry or scornful”

    The other night Romney said he’d read the Reagan diaries and Gingrich, self-described co-laborer with Reagan, was mentioned once.

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/01/07/why_does_romney_run_away_from_reaganomics_270692.html

    Not 1994, running against Kennedy, today, Romney is still running against Reagan.

    He’s not angry, I’ll give him that.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  250. and newt was very sweet on the individual mandate… your point?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  251. We’re talking here and now, Colonel, Baker couldn’t win, even by following the Mitt line.

    narciso (87e966)

  252. By your “here and now” reasoning, it’s clean slate time, eh?

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  253. So you’ve chosen to live in a land of half-baked ideas, narcissism and a phony, ginned-up “war” with the media.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  254. I have Debbie Downer as my rep, there is no logic.

    narciso (87e966)

  255. 259. Narcissism we’ll admit the rest is typical
    mendacious innuendo.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  256. You just accused someone of narcissism?

    DohBiden (ef98f0)

  257. Look if the only argument for the RINO is we’ve been here before Goldwater vs Romney and look what happened give it up.

    There are no faithful analogies to be made between that day and this.

    Support for Romney vs. Gingrich isn’t just collapsing, support for Romney vs. Obama is collapsing.

    The ‘most electable’ tag was in-your-face Ogabe-worthy BS from the start.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  258. Romney possessing that sort of character? Because he’s faithful to his wife?

    Comment by gary gulrud

    Right. Given that he was raised in a weird political dynasty where his parents both ran for high office and his kids do to and his siblings and his uncles and his relatives from the past dozen generations or so…

    The guy lived an honorable family life. That’s great, but so did Obama… and for the same reason. They knew they were going to run for president the entire time, and that was always priority one to them. They have intelligently learned the lesson from our nasty political climate.

    And again, that’s great. Good for him. But I think it’s a very artificial indicator of character in both Obama and Romney’s cases. For both of these good family men, every single political promise has an expiration date.

    Romney’s character means absolutely nothing if you’re relying on him to keep a promise. In fact, he swore he supported and sustained Roe v Wade and would never waver, and then explained the very first time he was called to support it in office, he changed his mind. Why? Because he no longer needed the support of the MA voters.

    Just about every criticism about Romney brings a complete contradiction. He’s both liberal and conservative. He’s both pro choice (or at least, has the exact same position on abortion as Ted Kennedy, which I call pro choice) and he’s pro life as soon as he needs to be. He’s a varmint hunter in 2007, but he’s in favor of “Strong gun control” in 2005… and I mean STRONG gun control the likes of which Texans would run politicians out of the state on a rail over.

    He both favors tax cuts and praises tax increases with democrat speak. He claimed to support conservatism, and then defines the Individual Mandate as conservative! !!! !

    So it’s great that Romney has been a great family man. Everyone should try their best to live up to that example, no matter that Romney was planning for this election his entire life (which sounds absolutely miserable to me). But does that mean he has the character voters can rely on? Of course not! Romney’s record proves he is completely unreliable and will not lead against the left. he will collaborate with the left and then excuse his miserable performance by noting how capable the democrats were at beating him. That is not the roadmap I want this party to follow in 2013-2017. It would be a disaster. You have to compare it to Obama’s worse disaster to justify it as a good idea, which says everything.

    Newt has tons of baggage, but he’s admitted his mistakes and they were in the mid 1990s… two decades ago. The ego Newt brings, combined with his view that the time is urgent to turn us back to Laffer/Kemp/Reagan will make Newt try very hard to fight for this pivotal reform, even when the political winds blow fiercely against serious spending reform.

    Newt has the potential to be a truly great president, actually. I hope those whose candidates have dropped out consider this. I find when you just plain vote for the best conservative, electability will take care of itself. I also note that the guy we thought was most electable in 1996 and 2008 were quite a bit like romney, and not really very electable.

    Dustin (7362cd)

  259. Didn’t Ronaldus Magnus Reagan have some relationship shenanigans on Jane Wyman?

    If you mean to insinuate that he cheated on her, wash your mouth out with soap. There is not the slightest reason to suspect any such thing.

    Milhouse (9a4c23)

  260. Refused to comment on the man until he passed, calling him a “great president, a kind and gentle man”.

    Guess were not dealing with the same cut of cloth here folks.

    Or she simply had no dirt to dish on him in the first place, and didn’t care to make any up.

    Milhouse (9a4c23)


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