Republican Primary

[Dan_Daly]

No we should defeat Obama by nominating the candidate with the best chance of winning and that is Romney.

Do you care that your stubborn support for Paul - a candidate with no chance - will help the anti-catholic Obama win a 2nd term? Are you looking forward to his continued war on the CAtholic church? Is that worth it to make a point that your guy Paul is the best because he’s the “perfect” candidate ? Did you know that Kathleen Sebelius said in a recent speech to NARAL , “we are at war” ?? Take a guess, Dan Daly, who they are at war with. They are at war with the Catholic Church. You Paul supporters may stay at home on election day, but make no mistake, you are allowing evil to prevail in doing so.

Ishii

I am fully aware that the Obama administration is at war with the Catholic Church. I am glad you and others are as well. My reasons to oppose Obama are the very similar to the ones I have for opposing Romney.

Is it “stubborn support” to like a different candidate than you even before my state’s primary has been held? If Romney truly has the best chance to beat Obama…he will win the nomination. If you don’t get the nomination, you don’t have much of a chance to win. So making sales pitch based on the general election when the primaries are still up in the air is a bit like putting the cart before the horse.

Paul is not a perfect candidate. There are actually a number of things I disagree with him on. I also believe he is by far the best candidate.

If the Republican nominee is also advancing an agenda of evil, voting for him, would be “helping evil prevail” in your words. In Render Unto Caesar by Archbishop Chaput, he explains that if both candidates hold immoral positions at odds with the Catholic faith, a Catholic may either:

A) Vote for the least objectionable candidate

or

B) Vote for neither: either voting for a 3rd party/write in, or not vote at all

Either can be a moral decision for an orthodox Catholic.

Pax

 

[GaryTaylor]

Right we are bit ahead of ourselves here for sure. Its “one” month into the primary. So no Romney has “nothing” locked up.

Tonight will be close, I see Romney has most of the older retired community locked up. However the Hispanic/Cuban and younger voters I don’t see in this regard. Here I see Newt with an edge.

I don’t know how its going to turn out for Ron Paul, time will tell. I believe Rick may come out ahead of Paul tonight. I haven’t heard much about Ron Paul in Fla. The legal drug issue is just is a deal breaker IMHO he shouldn’t have even spoke on. To me its not a major issue, but you can’t ignore how others view this either.

This is going to be such a long primary season that the Third party idea isn’t going to be an issue. In fact Ron Paul has stated he wouldn’t place himself in that situation. I would think the right position to defeat Obama is for all Republicans to understand this. However what has now turned into a ugly smear campaign down South, it seems the Republican norm has gone out the window.

 

[Dan_Daly]

However what has now turned into a ugly smear campaign down South, it seems the Republican norm has gone out the window

I agreed with almost your whole post until that last sentence.

How is smearing campaigning different than the Republican norm? It seems to be the norm of political campaigning in this country regardless of party.

-Just to clarify, I think defeating Obama is important, but as a means not an end. I’ll reserve my decision on the general election till after the field is set.

For example, Obama has been horrible. However, I think it is a reasonable question to ask if McCain would have been worse- much of the same policies, with most GOP congressman in support (along with Democrats) instead of opposition.

Pax

 

[RACJ]

You haven’t got a clue about the judge appointment process in Massachusetts. The Governor of Massachusetts is not all-powerful and able to appoint whomever he wishes to the bench.

Any Republican can support a guy who did his best to move the judiciary in as conservative direction as he could. Romney supports “strict constructionists” being appointed to the SC.

Yes, I do know about that process, now defunct, I believe, made so by Mitt. There is no reason, based upon record, to believe that he will appoint Constitutional judges. Can you imagine any Democrat in any state placing 75% REPUBLICANS on the bench? Not a chance. He is simply another BIG government lib, as far as I can see. :cool: Rob

 

[bbarrick8383]

No we should defeat Obama by nominating the candidate with the best chance of winning and that is Romney.

I can’t help but wonder if Romney gets the nomination, how many people are going to sleep in on election day for lack of motivation.

May be a lot of people staying home watching the paint dry if it’s between those two.

 

[bbarrick8383]

Good luck winning the election without the support of the GOP establishment. Good luck defending against the Billion dollar war chest without GOP establishment $$'s. That’s 1,000,000,000 Obama has for the poor winner of the GOP nomination. Romney will need every dollar and ounce of support he can get. Neither Gingrich nor Santorum would stand a chance of winning with the deck stacked as it is. I have my doubts with Romney as everyone does but he has the best chance of winning.

Ishii

I wish people would quit talking about this boogeyman establishment that doesn’t exist.

I may actually have to start believing in it, and wonder if those who say it doesn’t exist are just fanboys who can’t see no wrong with their beloved party.

 

[pnewton]

Right we are bit ahead of ourselves here for sure. Its “one” month into the primary. So no Romney has “nothing” locked up.

The whole concept of having an election “locked up” when votes are still out is by one more anti-democratic result of the primary system. I have said it before, instead of worrying about exporting democracy, we ought to import some first.

This is why I make my decision as to who to vote for at the first of the year and do not change my mind based on what voters do in other states.

 

[pnewton]

Well, good thing Romney now wants to repeal Obamacare and is pro-life.

He now says he wants to repeal Obamacare and is pro-life. I put more stock in past performance than promises. I really have no idea where his true values lie, or what he will say and do if really elected. All I will agree to is that I can not see how he could do a worse job than the current president.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

He now says he wants to repeal Obamacare and is pro-life. I put more stock in past performance than promises. I really have no idea where his true values lie, or what he will say and do if really elected. All I will agree to is that I can not see how he could do a worse job than the current president.

When the best that Mitt Romney can do is spend 1.5 million promoting himself, and 16 million attacking Gingrich, that tells me that Mitt Romney doesn’t have much to run on. It also tells me that subconsciously, Romney believes that Gingrich is a stronger candidate.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Inspiring. Makes me feel a great deal better if he ends up being the nominee. Thanks so much for posting this

Me too.

 

[rlg94086]

Yes, I do know about that process, now defunct, I believe, made so by Mitt. There is no reason, based upon record, to believe that he will appoint Constitutional judges. Can you imagine any Democrat in any state placing 75% REPUBLICANS on the bench? Not a chance. He is simply another BIG government lib, as far as I can see. Rob

Based on your posts, you really don’t know. Making simple-minded conclusions based on percentages demonstrates this clearly.

 

[rlg94086]

I put more stock in past performance than promises. I really have no idea where his true values lie, or what he will say and do if really elected. All I will agree to is that I can not see how he could do a worse job than the current president.

I could say the same about Ron Paul. He hasn’t really accomplished anything in 30 years in Congress, so I don’t expect him to accomplish anything as President. But, I will agree that he could do no worse than the current President.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I could say the same about Ron Paul. He hasn’t really accomplished anything in 30 years in Congress, so I don’t expect him to accomplish anything as President. But, I will agree that he could do no worse than the current President.

Right, he’s accomplished nothing. He hasn’t shed light on the secretive and nefarious practices of the Federal Reserve. He hasn’t brought to the fore of the conversation the bad idea of bank bailouts. He hasn’t gotten people talking about the housing bubble created by Fanny and Freddie. He hasn’t gotten people focused on the Constitutionality of federal deficit spending.

You’re right, he’s done nothing.

 

[rlg94086]

Right, he’s accomplished nothing. He hasn’t **shed light **on the secretive and nefarious practices of the Federal Reserve. He hasn’t brought to the fore of the conversation the bad idea of bank bailouts. He hasn’t gotten people talking about the housing bubble created by Fanny and Freddie. He hasn’t gotten people focused on the Constitutionality of federal deficit spending.

You’re right, he’s done nothing.

In other words, he’s accomplished a lot of talking. There are plenty of people who have the gift of gab. What has he actually accomplished in Congress?

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

In other words, he’s accomplished a lot of talking. There are plenty of people who have the gift of gab. What has he actually accomplished in Congress?

What have Romney and Gingrich done besides become pariah’s of “conservatism”? What has Santorum done beside alienate his own constituents in Pennsylvania? What has any Republican done that merits my vote?

What can be said about Ron Paul can be said about the entire GOP field. The fact that none of the candidates can muster over 50% of the GOP base support to me tells me that the entire field is garbage and that for the GOP faithful, this will be another year of “hold your nose and pull the switch for the R guy”.

The country deserves better and the GOP will need better to beat Obama, who, in spite of his atrocious presidency, cannot fall below 42% approval rating. He could club baby seals to death in the Rose Garden on TV, and 40% of the population will still vote for him.

 

[bbarrick8383]

In other words, he’s accomplished a lot of talking. There are plenty of people who have the gift of gab. What has he actually accomplished in Congress?

What exactly would you like Congress to do for you Mr. GOP?

 

[rlg94086]

What have Romney and Gingrich done besides become pariah’s of “conservatism”? What has Santorum done beside alienate his own constituents in Pennsylvania? What has any Republican done that merits my vote?

What can be said about Ron Paul can be said about the entire GOP field. The fact that none of the candidates can muster over 50% of the GOP base support to me tells me that the entire field is garbage and that for the GOP faithful, this will be another year of “hold your nose and pull the switch for the R guy”.

The country deserves better and the GOP will need better to beat Obama, who, in spite of his atrocious presidency, cannot fall below 42% approval rating. He could club baby seals to death in the Rose Garden on TV, and 40% of the population will still vote for him.

First of all, both Gingrich and Romney held successful leadership roles and accomplished much. I agree with some of what they accomplished and disagree with some, but they, unlike Ron Paul, have actually shown leadership.

If you don’t like the GOP, why are you supporting a GOP candidate? Vote Libertarian or Constitution Party. Since you apparently don’t think Ron Paul is part of the GOP, please take your RINO somewhere else.

What exactly would you like Congress to do for you Mr. GOP?

Legislate. That’s what they do. I would like them to move in a more conservative direction. Ron Paul is not capable of leading them there. He’s shown that in his 30 years of non-accomplishments.

A Ron Paul dictatorship is unlikely to happen.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

If you don’t like the GOP, why are you supporting a GOP candidate? Vote Libertarian or Constitution Party.

That is strongly being considered. I’d rather vote for a Constitutional conservative than one of these big-government, big-spending war-mongers any day.

 

[rlg94086]

That is strongly being considered. I’d rather vote for a Constitutional conservative than one of these big-government, big-spending war-mongers any day.

Cool. Knock yourself out.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Final Romney-Gingrich attacks before Floridians vote today

"He has been flailing around a bit trying to go after me for one thing or the other," Romney told supporters in a last-day stop in Dunedin, outside St. Petersburg. "You just watch it and shake your head. It has been kind of painfully revealing to watch."" - [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/30/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html)

“A defiant Newt Gingrich closed a rally Monday night by predicting “a decisive victory tomorrow” and slamming his favorite targets: the news media, GOP presidential rival Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama and Goldman Sachs.” - WSJ

[Nate Silver predicts](http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/fivethirtyeight/primaries/florida) Romney will have 44% of the vote to Gingrich's 29%. Santorum should marginally beat Ron Paul into third.

Nearly 600,000 cast early votes in Florida - WSJ

Romney and Gingrich describe the first month of their administrations

“**oth men said one of their first acts would be to repeal President Obama’s health care law. Gingrich said he also would ask Congress to remain in session before his swearing-in to repeal the Dodd-Frank overhaul of the financial services industry and the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate governance law… In addition to Obama’s health care law, Romney said he would give licenses to companies that have been approved for drilling for gas and oil on federal lands as well as issue an executive order saying that unions are not required to work on government projects.” - National Journal

Gingrich: I won’t debate Obama if the moderators are reporters - Hot Air

Romney appears to abandon entitlement reform

“At a campaign rally in Florida Monday evening, Mitt Romney told the crowd: “We will never go after Medicare and Social Security.” Romney’s remark is already causing some conservatives to despair that he is throwing entitlement reform under the bus in order to pander to seniors.” - Weekly Standard

Arthur Laffer: Newt's flat tax would do a lot more to attract capital, spur growth and reduce compliance costs - [WSJ](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204652904577192660439187438.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_carousel_2)

Thomas Sowell accuses Romney of incorrectly attacking Gingrich

“Among the claims going out through the mass media in Florida, on the eve of that state’s primary election, is that Newt Gingrich “resigned in disgrace”… His resignation was not due to those charges and occurred much later. Do the Romney camp and the Republican establishment not know this, a dozen years later? Or are they far less concerned with whether the charges will stand up than they are about smearing Gingrich on the eve of the Florida primaries?” - Thomas Sowell for TownHall

"Mitt Romney has again mangled the facts about the ethics investigation of former House speaker Newt Gingrich and the circumstances surrounding his resignation." - [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/romney-gets-the-facts-wrong-on-gingrichs-ethics-case/2012/01/30/gIQAu6p9cQ_blog.html?wprss=rss_linkset&tid=sm_twitter_postpolitics)

However, Gingrich got his facts wrong on Romney’s record regarding Kosher nursing home food in Massachusetts - Commentary

Sen. Jon Kyl urges an end to negative attacks and warns against a long, drawn-out race

“I’m concerned that if we don’t have a nominee earlier rather than later it could” hurt the GOP, said Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who is unaligned in the race. “But maybe part of it depends on how they conduct themselves, and if they continue doing what they’ve been doing the past week, it probably wouldn’t be the best thing for the Republican nominee who eventually wins.”" - Politico

As candidates battle in Florida, Rick Santorum to watch from Las Vegas

“A Nevada Tea Party-cum-conservatives group run by Sharron Angle’s old boosters, T.R.U.N.C., is hosting Santorum for a Florida Primary results-watching party Tuesday night at the Santorum campaign’s Nevada headquarters… The event is doubling as a way to find and build an army of canvassers and callers to promote Santorum in the few days that remain before Nevada’s GOP caucuses on Saturday.” - Las Vegas Sun

Ron Paul is trying to attract the Mormon vote- American Spectator

Jonah Goldberg: Liberals are using a confrontation between Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and Obama to make cheap racial points - LA Times**