A surge of Santorum

Number Six said:
Yes, but Obama and H-Clinton weren't really, really different from each other, like Santorum and Romney are. And one of Obama and H-Clinton wasn't considered way out there by mainstream America. If the race for the GOP nomination dragged on and on but it was between two normal Republicans then it wouldn't be such a big thing.
Click to expand...

So the GOP is eventually going to settle on a moderate who tries to paint himself as a conservative or a conservative who tries to paint himself as a moderate. I think the difference, for example, between the budget/tax proposals of Romney and Santorum are only differences of degree. They both adhere to a similar ideology (lower taxes on the "job creators", cut government spending and regulation).
 
BenBurch said:
I actually see hope in this for the political environment. If the GOP is unable to come together on this, we may see a re-balancing of the political debate such as occurred when the Whigs fell apart, and we might see a real middle-conservative party on the Right, and a truly liberal party on the Left.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. ;)
Click to expand...

I think there is much to the idea that the Reps implode and reform, tho' it's unclear what you mean precisely by "real middle-conservative" and "truly liberal". These terms (conservative and liberal) and become so distorted as to be almost meaningless. The only vibrant and motivated parts of the right are teaparty + libertarians and the hard religious right - and I wouldn't call them "middle-conservative". "Real liberal" is equally mysterious; isn't Obama liberal ?

Anyway the interesting wager is whether an massive economic upset or a massive political revision occurs first.

The current Republican problem seems that the party core is pushing a candidate, Romney with the wrong credentials for the moment and no charisma. It will be surprising if he beats Obama, but surprises happen in politics.

RandFan said:
Certainly the divide itself tells us little to nothing as far as the future of the GOP. It's the ever changing public sentiment about social issues. Gay marriage, abortion, contraception, etc.. These issues unite the party less and less. Being "the true conservative" still holds sway but I don't think for long. Republicans are going to have to let some of that BS go. JMO.
Click to expand...

I think it does hint at the future of the GOP. If the core Rep preference - Romney - is the candidate and fails it seriously erodes the credibility of the party and encourages change. If Santorum becomes the candidate and fails, it is less damaging to the party, moreso to the hard-right.

Any new party needs to define themselves at a greater distance from the Democratic policies, but also on different issues. That's not hard to do as both parties ignore many important issues.

Travis said:
The idea that this guy can even sniff the white house is so scary. It would be a new dark ages for homosexuals in this country.
Click to expand...

Not unless he could get some kook supreme court appointments past congress.
After watching Obama for 3+ years you have reason to be confused, but the President is not the emperor.
 
Last edited:
stevea said:
Not unless he could get some kook supreme court appointments past congress.
After watching Obama for 3+ years you have reason to be confused, but the President is not the emperor.
Click to expand...

Obama has done nothing I haven't agreed with yet.

And there are some scary things a President Santorum could do with his power.
 
stevea said:
I think there is much to the idea that the Reps implode and reform, tho' it's unclear what you mean precisely by "real middle-conservative" and "truly liberal". These terms (conservative and liberal) and become so distorted as to be almost meaningless. The only vibrant and motivated parts of the right are teaparty + libertarians and the hard religious right - and I wouldn't call them "middle-conservative". "Real liberal" is equally mysterious; isn't Obama liberal ?
Click to expand...

Almost as liberal as Nixon. Not quite though. The spectrum has moved so far to the right that what used to be conservative is now liberal.
 
I think the 'anyone but Romney' surges and crashes have continued through the primary. We've had two surges and crashes so far with Paul and the Grinch.

Romney will inevitably recover his footing and trundle on after this surge of Santorum has drained away.
 
Undesired Walrus said:
I think the 'anyone but Romney' surges and crashes have continued through the primary. We've had two surges and crashes so far with Paul and the Grinch.

Romney will inevitably recover his footing and trundle on after this surge of Santorum has drained away.
Click to expand...

I rather agree with you, but I have to admit my prediction that Iowa was Santorum's peak as the not-Romney flavor of the month was wrong.

Santorum in a statistical tie with Romney in national pollsin mid-February is a different matter than Perry being up there back in September or Trump being the "frontrunner" more than a year before the Iowa caucus.

I still think Romney is more or less inevitable, but I think the longer this is contested, the less able he'll be to unify the party.

I think the smart money in the GOP isn't thinking about disbanding or restructuring. I think they're sort of giving up on this election and making plans for the next mid-term and then for 2016.
 
I guess the guys at the White House will probably have a had a raging erection for at least a couple weeks now. I don't think they expected to be in such a great spot at this point in the campaign in their wildest dreams.
 
The Republican candidate carousel is pretty funny... Until proven otherwise Santorum is just the current flavor of the month.
 
JoeTheJuggler said:
Santorum's poll numbers are up in Arizona and several other states with primaries/caucuses coming up soon.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/15/poll-santorum-jumps-in-arizona/

Super Tuesday isn't that far off. If Santorum hasn't faded before then, he could still be in the race.

I'd say it's still Romney's nomination to lose, but he just might pull it off (losing it, that is).
Click to expand...
A lot will depend on what Newt Gingrich does. If Newt drops out (as many Repubs are asking him to) then Santorum picks up the lion's share of his "not-Mitt" votes. I don't think Rick will play as well everywhere as he has recently, but it's not out of the question.

But I expect Romney will crank up the mud gun, and while people say they hate it, it works.
 
JoeTheJuggler said:
Santorum's poll numbers are up in Arizona and several other states with primaries/caucuses coming up soon.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/15/poll-santorum-jumps-in-arizona/

Super Tuesday isn't that far off. If Santorum hasn't faded before then, he could still be in the race.

I'd say it's still Romney's nomination to lose, but he just might pull it off (losing it, that is).
Click to expand...
So we'll likely have Santorum taking the Midwest and Mountain West, perhaps the South unless Gingrich is able to make some kind of last stand there (and Gingrich will probably take at least Georgia), while Romney on top of his small lead will take the North East and states where Santorum isn't on the ballot or at least can't get full delegates (Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Virginia, Washington D.C.). And of course Romney has the money. California might end up decisive, or Gingrich and/or Paul might become kingmakers.

This is gonna take a while. :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
JoeTheJuggler said:
Three recent national polls put Santorum in a statistical tie with Romney.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/14/polls-all-tied-up-between-romney-and-santorum/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html

Wow, the GOP could actually nominate Santorum!

Either way, it's good news for Obama. It looks like the GOP will be split right up to the convention (and probably for the election).
Click to expand...
A surge of santorum. Man, that has to be messy - and what a terrible odor!!!!
 
Travis said:
... And there are some scary things a President Santorum could do with his power.
Click to expand...

Oh, let him do it. Let people figure out once and for all if this is the kind of crap leadership they want.

Santorum is going to get creamed ;)
 
Minoosh said:
Santorum is going to get creamed ;)
Click to expand...

Dang I think that witticism is original to *moi*

Have you ever Googled a good line to see if you're the only person who's thought of it?

But then, explaining the joke to Mom will be tough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom