Romney and Santorum look weak: George Will

[Odysseus]

I miss real Republicans.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12054/1212004-109.stm

George F. Will / The GOP's miscast candidates
Neither Romney nor Santorum looks like a winner in November
Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Midwest begins on the western slopes of the Allegheny Mountains, around Rick Santorum's Pittsburgh, birthplace of the Ohio River, the original highway into the Midwest.

Pittsburgh fueled the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, an early eruption of Western resentment of the overbearing East, which taxed the whiskey that Westerners made from their grain. Rick Santorum the Midwesterner, after victories in Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri, is waging more of his political capital on the region.

Rather than wait for Super Tuesday's (March 6) congenial calendar featuring five culturally conservative states (Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho), he is contesting Michigan, which votes Tuesday, and Ohio. But instead of keeping his Rust Belt focus on his blue-collar roots and economic program for reviving manufacturing, he has opened multiple fronts in the culture wars.

By doing so -- questioning much prenatal testing, disdaining Barack Obama's environmentalism as "phony theology," calling involvement of even state governments in public education "anachronistic," reiterating that abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape and incest, explaining the proper purpose of sex (procreation) -- Mr. Santorum has eclipsed Newt Gingrich, his rival for the support of social conservatives. But in doing so Mr. Santorum has made his Catholicism more central and problematic in this nomination contest than Mitt Romney's Mormonism has been.

The problem is not that the phenomena that trouble Mr. Santorum are unserious. The use of prenatal testing for search-and-destroy missions against Down syndrome and other handicapped babies is barbaric. Mr. Obama's stealthy pursuit of a national curriculum for grades K through 12 is ill-advised and illegal. And no domestic problem -- not even the unsustainable entitlement state -- is more urgent and intractable than that of family disintegration.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12054...#ixzz1nEu2bpD6

[Odysseus]

Romney reads Krugman?
http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes...ading-krugman/

The idea that spending reductions slow, rather than spur the economy is what Paul Krugman, The Times editorial board, and many liberal economists have been advancing since the downturn. (Simply put: You can’t cut your way to growth.) It’s also in keeping with the Obama administration’s arguments. As Jack Lew, the White House chief of staff said recently on Meet the Press, “I think that there’s pretty broad agreement that the time for austerity is not today…Right now we have a recovery that’s taking root and if we were to put in an austerity measures right now, it would take the economy in the wrong way.”

Actually, there is no “broad agreement:” The Republican political establishment considers such ideas heresy. Andy Roth of the Club for Growth, called Mr. Romney’s admission “hogwash.” And within hours of the gaffe, campaign spokesman Ryan Williams stepped in to assure voters that Mr. Romney “believes that budget cuts—especially in the context of President Obama’s unprecedented spending explosion—are a step in the right direction.”

[Odysseus]

Santorum is scary? Really?
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12052/1211592-153.stm
ronically, Mitt Romney, the gelatinous Gibraltar of Republican politics, stands the best chance of making the race for the White House competitive among independent voters he has alienated in recent months. After a hard tack to the right, Mr. Romney wouldn't lose an ounce of sleep embracing the middle to beat Mr. Obama in November. It's that kind of mercenary pragmatism that enrages conservatives who value principle over short-term electoral victory.

Because Mr. Romney has residual appeal with independents, Democrats would rather Mr. Obama faced someone with more extremist views -- someone like Rick Santorum. I understand the logic. I just don't buy it.

I think it is irresponsible to underestimate the appeal of a demagogue when so many Americans are suffering and the public mood is so mercurial. All it would take would be a few weeks of $5 a gallon gas and a Democratic electorate demoralized because of some administration misstep to put even the strangest protest candidacy into play.

Mr. Santorum is a principled culture warrior who doesn't believe in evolution, man-made global warming, sex for purposes other than having children, separation of church and state, tax-financed public education (except by Penn Hills of his home-schooled kids), a Constitutional right to privacy, contraception, some forms of prenatal testing, or freedom of conscience if it contradicts his church's edicts or his party platform.

Mr. Santorum would like to see doctors who perform abortions criminally prosecuted. He has said that war with Iran to thwart its nuclear ambitions is in America's best interests, despite the painful lessons of the past decade and the skepticism of our own generals.

If he is elected president, women should expect an administration openly hostile to their interests on a number of fronts. As for "blah people" -- union members and academics -- well, they can just forget it.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12052...#ixzz1nEvcIkXx

[alkemical]

Romney's been using some #ows language recently. #interesting

[alkemical]

I do not like Santorum.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

[Odysseus]

Church and state were separated a long time ago for a reason.

What would the Republicans have to say if GEE SAUCE wasn't their branded guy? what do they offer that is new.

If we could get Church out of government wouldn't it be a better place? When I say church I mean God or Atheism. All of it. Out! If you don't want to pray in school. Then don't. If you DO want to pray school. Then do!

Church should be an expanded term so that what you do in your church is your business and what you do in your bedroom is your business but government should be government.

[Odysseus]

Romney is violating finance laws
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1297482.html

[Odysseus]

Newt and Santorum tax plans would explode budget deficit: Neutral source
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1297304.html


WASHINGTON — Massive tax cuts proposed by GOP presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum would cause the national debt to explode while Mitt Romney's budget plan could generate red ink in line with current projections, according to a new study released Thursday.

The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a Washington-based budget watchdog group, estimates that the wrenching budget cuts proposed by Ron Paul would lessen the flow of red ink compared with current policies but still leave the government running a sizable deficit.

The GOP candidates' budget plans provide a sharp contrast with President Barack Obama, who released his latest fiscal blueprint just last week that includes proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy.

Like Obama, the GOP candidates have the luxury of suspending political reality and assuming lawmakers would quickly enact their ideas into law.

---Politics. Ain't life grand?

[Odysseus]

Rush Limbaugh cringes at Santorum's weak comment
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1297508.html

Santorum was apologizing for supporting former President George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" legislation. He said that it had contradicted his personal beliefs, but took "one for the team" when he voted for it. When audience members booed, he added, "You know, politics is a team sports, folks, and sometimes you've got to rally together and do something, and in this case I thought testing and finding out how bad the problem was wasn't a bad idea."

Mitt Romney quickly seized on his opponent's comment, while others have speculated whether it would damage Santorum's campaign.

On Thursday, Limbaugh lamented Santorum's blunder. “I cringed when I heard him say this. Santorum is getting creamed for the team player comment," he said. "I heard it, I looked at [my wife] Kathryn, and I said, 'There’s going to be hell to pay for that one,' because I knew that Santorum opponents, both from the left and right, were going to harp on it."

[Odysseus]

Hey look Hobo! ONE THREAD!

[elsid13]

In an hour-long interview with conservative television host Glenn Beck, Santorum also defended his record on abortion and his vote in favor of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind education law.


On the president’s efforts to boost college attendance, Santorum said, “I understand why Barack Obama wants to send every kid to college, because of their indoctrination mills, absolutely … The indoctrination that is going on at the university level is a harm to our country.”


He claimed that “62 percent of kids who go into college with a faith commitment leave without it,” but declined to cite a source for the figure. And he floated the idea of requiring that universities that receive public funds have “intellectual diversity” on campus.


http://news.yahoo.com/santorum-obama...221507241.html


He is a nut case.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by elsid13

In an hour-long interview with conservative television host Glenn Beck, Santorum also defended his record on abortion and his vote in favor of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind education law.


On the president’s efforts to boost college attendance, Santorum said, “I understand why Barack Obama wants to send every kid to college, because of their indoctrination mills, absolutely … The indoctrination that is going on at the university level is a harm to our country.”


He claimed that “62 percent of kids who go into college with a faith commitment leave without it,” but declined to cite a source for the figure. And he floated the idea of requiring that universities that receive public funds have “intellectual diversity” on campus.


http://news.yahoo.com/santorum-obama...221507241.html


He is a nut case.

Wow. That is is crazy AND stupid.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

Wow. That is is crazy AND stupid.

I'm telling you: This.Guy.Is.Nuts.

I lived in the State he "served". Trust me, you do not want this guy at all. I'd even openly suggest deporting him to Detroit.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by alkemical

I'm telling you: This.Guy.Is.Nuts.

I lived in the State he "served". Trust me, you do not want this guy at all. I'd even openly suggest deporting him to Detroit.

Who is voting for Santorum? There are that many creepy people in America?

A friend of mine from Texas says that a lot Texans think that Ron Paul is a nut job. I don't think that is quite the case. I think a lot of American misunderstand what he is really saying.

I miss Palin. She was good for a laugh or two. This guys is not even funny.

[Play2win]

Wow between Santorum, Ron Paul, and Newt, it is a circus of epic proportions.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

Who is voting for Santorum? There are that many creepy people in America?

A friend of mine from Texas says that a lot Texans think that Ron Paul is a nut job. I don't think that is quite the case. I think a lot of American misunderstand what he is really saying.

I miss Palin. She was good for a laugh or two. This guys is not even funny.

There are a lot of creepy people in USA, but many times things are said in a "nice quiet room".

Who do Texans think is sane? Maybe we should start there for the barometer!

[Traveler]

These republican candidates remind me of when John Kerry was the democratic nominee. Wasn't thrilled with him being the candidate but at least his wasn't bat**** looney like the republican candidates this year.

Although much can change between now and election day to go against President Obama, these guys insistance on crazy talk and lack of focus on jobs is mind boggling.

Keep this up and the re-election of President Obama is all but guaranteed.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by elsid13

On the president’s efforts to boost college attendance, Santorum said, “I understand why Barack Obama wants to send every kid to college, because of their indoctrination mills, absolutely … The indoctrination that is going on at the university level is a harm to our country.”


He claimed that “62 percent of kids who go into college with a faith commitment leave without it,” but declined to cite a source for the figure. And he floated the idea of requiring that universities that receive public funds have “intellectual diversity” on campus.

Holy. ****. This guy.

Of course the irony is that "intellectual diversity" is exactly what he hates about colleges. When you spend a few years hearing a lot of different viewpoints, you do tend to leave with less dogmatic theological views.

And of course allowing our children any kind of nuance in their intellectual or spiritual lives really "is a harm to our country" if your vision of America is a whitewashed fiction of unwaveringly obedient 1950's families going to church 3 times a week with their 7 kids.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

...He has said that war with Iran to thwart its nuclear ambitions is in America's best interests, despite the painful lessons of the past decade and the skepticism of our own generals.

There are many reasons to fear a Santorum candidacy and what it means for our country. Many. But this may be the single largest of them. Anyone that would vote for a man with such ideas, a man who would become our Commander in Chief for crying out loud, proves the truth of Churchill's quote, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter".

[TonyR]

Hardcore conservative opposition to Obama has always been cultural and theological. The pop-theological mainstream of American evangelicals has so thoroughly assimilated the ideal of American capitalism that any deviation, however modest, from it is tantamount to radical godless humanism. And, in an extension of an older intradenominational debate, conservative Catholics like Santorum deeply mistrust the ideal of "social justice" as championed by the Catholic left. As I've argued before, the line between culture and economics is disappearing.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/...-never-stopped

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by TonyR

There are many reasons to fear a Santorum candidacy and what it means for our country. Many. But this may be the single largest of them. Anyone that would vote for a man with such ideas, a man who would become our Commander in Chief for crying out loud, proves the truth of Churchill's quote, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter".

Love the Churchill quote.

The culture war, for me, is really hard to comprehend. There are so many larger issues looming. This kind of inertia does not make good business sense.

[orinjkrush]

Repugs show once again that they are the party of old ideas. thank goodness they keep trotting out all the failed ideas of the past. 'cause it seems like none of 'em are sticking with the electorate or even their own elites. even the incompetent kenyan social organizer doesn't seem so bad now.

and george will calling anybody weak looking is hilarious. what a geek he is.

[Arkie]

Just look at the damn records. They all want to be “fiscal conservatives.” That’s a good label to have with the voters. The problem is the fact that none of them except Ron Paul have the record of a fiscal conservative. They all promise they will be, but they haven’t shown it yet. So, you can easily look at their records, or just believe whatever comes out of these phony clowns’ mouths. It’s same with Obama. He promised to cut our deficit in half by the end of his first term. It was one of the promises that helped get him elected. That’s what these guys do. They say whatever you want to hear to get elected. The lazy way to vote is to listen to them without looking at what they really do.

Ron Paul hasn’t ever voted for an unbalanced budget or to raise the debt ceiling. Rick Santorum has voted to raise the debt ceiling five times. Rick voted to double the size of the Department of Education. Rick voted for the largest expansion to entitlement spending since LBJ. Rick always votes to send our money to foreign countries. I won’t even bring up Mitt Romney. We all know he isn’t a fiscal conservative, and I want to keep this post short.

[Odysseus]

I would rather vote for Gerry Springer than Santorum. I would at least get someone who gets who they are in context.

Who the heck is voting for this guy?