In the recent GOP primary campaign in South Carolina, Sarah Palin urged people to vote for Newt Gingrich in that particular primary, in order to keep the overall primary battle competitive. I now offer my not-much-sought-after endorsement to Romney for the Florida primary, for the same reason. If Romney loses Florida, his campaign would collapse. If he wins, it’s still competitive.
I am not 100% sold on Romney as the nominee. Not even 75%. But I hope Floridians vote for him.
The main objection to him has been RomneyCare. But keep in mind that he was dealing with a veto-proof Democratic majority in the legislature. If he hadn’t sought compromise, the resulting legislation would have been WORSE. Why he has not emphasized this point I do not know. But it’s true. And you know what else is true? Romney continues to poll a lot better against Obama than Gingrich does. ‘Nuf said.
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
I disagree.... I am sick of the "I'm a better conservative." "No I'm a better conservative" routine...
texastaxpayer (Diary) Wednesday, January 25th at 7:34PM EST (link)Let’s get the preliminary over and move onto the main event. Florida please don’t vote for Romney and end this.
NOW BRING FOURTH OBAMA…….
“Texas will again lift it’s head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages.” Sam Houston
It's like two hookers trying to convince us they'd make a better nun
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Wednesday, January 25th at 9:03PM EST (link)Lately, the Gingrich is soo much better than Romney meme, is wearing on me. Having Romneycare Romney as our nominee is so ironic it makes my brain freeze, so we need an alternative, and I’m trilled Newt won in SC to stop Mr Inevitability, … BUT …
the problem alas is that Newt’s baggage is weighty enough and his own conservative ‘issues’ glaring enough, I question whether its worth caring about pushing one flawed candidate over the other flawed candidate. Why?
1. Newt touted his conservative record on Monday. Problem? He fibbed:
- he was a Rockefellar Republican, not a Goldwaterite, in 1960s.
- He had almost nothing to do with making supply side economics happen
- Elliot Abrams took umbrage at his tying himself to Reagan and winning the Cold War that he responded by digging up a speech Newt made highly critical of Reagan
- the rest of what he said included resume inflation
2. His non-conservative kneejerks are sticking in the craw
- “proud” of his support and lobbying for Medicare Part D
- calling Romney ‘inhumane’ for daring to suggest *self*- deportation, ie attrition, ie. illegal immigrants go home on their own accord. Newt has done a Full Lindsay Graham on us.
3. Dick Armey recently touted the idea of a brokered convention in Kudlow interview and said there wasnt a ‘small Government conservative’ in the race. Odd, but Dick Armey was newt’s wingman as majority leader. He’s one to know …. and the Dog That Didnt Bark is Newt’s distinct lack of support from those who served with him during his speakership.
4. Newt’s electability gap is real and serious, and hasnt changed in the past weeks as he surged in GOP primary polls:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289264/new-poll-delivers-scott-walker-good-news-christian-schneider
In a poll showing Walker winning a recall election, it shows “Gingrich’s favorable/unfavorable rating currently stands at 25/53 in Wisconsin, meaning Gingrich’s favorability is slightly below that of “psoriasis.””
https://www.suffolk.edu/50641.html
“Romney led Obama by 47 percent to 42 percent in the Florida survey, while Obama topped Gingrich by 9 points, 49 percent to 40 percent. ”
The main difference? Gingrich loses independent vote 2-to-1.
So we have that and the guy – Romney – who’s ‘conservative’ credentials that he raised a family (apparently something that noted conservative Obama is handling as well) and balanced a budget that is required by law to be balanced. Oh, and he fought the Democrats in the lege so hard that almost 40% of his judicial nominees were Republican and they got Romneycare into law. Oy Vey!
OK, I’ve convinced myself …. Draft Mitch Daniels.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
Freedom, we've Been in Agreement before so I hope you listen to my response
quill67 (Diary) Thursday, January 26th at 1:57AM EST (link)1) Gingrich did support Goldwater in General Election
2) Nothing to do with Reagan? He was a student of his. Of all member of congress only 19 were frequent visitors to the White House. Most were committee chairman. But among them was Gingrich. Why was he there? He was a back-bencher. He was there because he was part of the team –yes a rookie, a student–but obivously among 400 members of congress, Reagan wanted him there.
3) Newt was critical of Reagan–for not being 1980 Reagan. Remember Nancy Reagan almost got us into the bungled arms deal with Gorby? Luckily, Reagan backed away at last moment.
4) We laugh when government do stupid things. One of those is to limit choices. Medicare part-D was bad because it was not paid for but the idea that if we are going to pay for health benefits we should do so in the most cost effect way possible is very sensible. Also Ryan’s premium support plan will not only support drug coverage but the insurance company may even allow a new benefit–wellness coverage. Do you oppose this flexibility?
5) Newt is more conservative than Romney
6) Don’t you remember how McCain was supposed to be more electable?
Moderate Republicans in polling get some liberals who are mad at their candidate to say they are going to vote for them. But then the election cycle heats up and they remember who they are and go home. The moderate is unable to convince anyone that their views are right because they lack real fundamental principles and so they lose the election.
Romney will lose. And I am not excited about Romney being President. I believe he will provide states with funding so they can each create their own little RomneyCares. Not much better than Obama (long-term)
The Gingrich History
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Thursday, January 26th at 2:37AM EST (link)All your points are well-taken:
1) Gingrich, not only was a Rockefellar supporter, but in the 1970s, he ran to the LEFT of the Democrat in his initial runs. He wised up by 1978 to win, running as a conservative.
2) The issue was that Newt fluffs his own resume here. Gingrich, a mere back-bencher – we agree – appeared to take significant credit for both job creation and the cold war resolution. Being a Republican member of Congress doesnt make you a Reagan conservative any more than being Reagan’s chief of staff made Howard Baker one.
Newt’s time in leadership and real influence was 1994-1998, not 1980s.
3) Newt was critical of Reagan, in ways that Elliot Abrams thinks today was unhelpful. And after Newt said John Bolton would make a good SOS, Bolton endorsed – Romney. Ouch.
4) I oppose the expansion of govt in medicare part D. Santorum got raked over the coals for that, but in fact Gingrich not only supported it, he worked with Hillary on’ bipartisan healthcare’ AND praised Romneycare in 2006, indicating that we needed mandates.
5) I dont disagree that Newt is more conservative overall than Romney, but not on all issues – both flirted with AGW cap-n-trade support, and now Newt is going LEFT in His-pandering on immigration with his amnesty-for-20yrs-in-US and calling Romney ‘heartlesss’ for being against it. its NOT clear that a vote for potentially unpopular/unstable/on-3rd-wife Newt would be better for conservatives than the bland moderate Romney. Especially if Newt is more likely to lose.
6) I dont think anyone could have won after the financial crisis blew up.McCain didnt know the economy in a year when it was #1 issue.
What we DO know now, is that Gingrich’s fav/unfav ratings are horrible, so there is a serious electability gap.
Romney will be more likely to win. I too am not excited about President Romney. But I do think any Republican will be a LOT better than Obama on many issues and levels. Both are worth supporting heartily in the general election, but right now, I’ve thrown in the towel on knowing who’d be the best candidate. They’ve all got warts.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
Romney's not perfect but
cynic19006 Wednesday, January 25th at 9:57PM EST (link)Obviously the best canddiate for the general. I wish he had more of Newt’s fight and guts. Romney’s not a street fighter. He never will be. But he is taking a lot of heat from leftists and the media for being “hardline” (i.e. believes in enforcing the law) on immigration. And Gingrich, the “Reagan conservative”, is attacking him from the LEFT. If we don’t have a candidate who can go right at Obama for his backdoor amnesty, we don’t have a candidate who can win.
Romney would likely be more conservative than he lets on. Gingrich would likely be less so. That is the history of both in their respective offices.
Obviously?? Really?? Please explain what makes a flip flopping, failed governor and the very epitome of wall street greed the obvious best choice for the general election????
texastaxpayer (Diary) Wednesday, January 25th at 10:13PM EST (link)“Texas will again lift it’s head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages.” Sam Houston
The RNC/MSM Cabal which scheduled the debates
cactusjack Wednesday, January 25th at 10:27PM EST (link)did its job very well. So well Axelrod would be proud to claim the results as if they were his own. After three months of self immolation and circular firing squad, we have emerged with the Northeastern Liberal Republican and the consummate Beltway Insider as our leading candidates. Oh, and Ron Paul the spoiler, to make sure the election is handed to the Dems in case those two dont’tmanage to lose it on their own. Which one do I fear most? Newt, here’s why: forget his one liner zingers,or anything he has ever said or promises between now and Jan 2013 should he get elected. “No one knows what he will actually do should he be elected.* He is totally unpredictable. All we know is, he gets goofy weak-kneed when he gets close to real power. It has made him sit on settees with Nancy Pelosi and plan running with Hillary Clinton. Just no tellin’ what he will actually do if he gets the POTUS gig. I know Romney is a patriot and will not sell us out to China or Al Qaeda. That’s about all I know about him that’s good, but OTOH I really know* nothing* about a President Gingrich or which way he would break in office. Neither do any of you.
Agreed
A_Texan (Diary) Wednesday, January 25th at 11:17PM EST (link)I fear a Romney implosion, with no one else to fill the vacuum. Right now Gingrich looks like he’d lose by a larger margin than McCain, which would mean loss of House and Senate Seats.
With Romney, we’re much more likely to see a welcome revival of “Confirm Them.”
Barack Obama: The most inexperienced, far-left candidate the Democratic Party has ever dared to nominate to be our President.
Total Load of Stinking BS
aj_0000 Thursday, January 26th at 12:04AM EST (link)1. If Romney wins FL, he is once again the prohibitive favorite to be the nominee. You want to end this and get your guy in there.
2. In the last Gallup head-to-head test (in Dec), Romney and Gingrich polled exactly the same against Obama, 50-48. Their favorability ratings are also exactly the same in the latest WP poll.
Romney is NOT a stronger candidate in the genera. He is in fact WEAKER because he will DESTROY turnout from the Republican base. The turnout in Iowa and NH was LOW. The turnout in SC was THROUGH THE ROOF.
Only the “establishment” and those few unthinking voters they’ve managed to force to swallow Romney are oblivious to this reality.
Romney is a guaranteed loser.
Compare 2006, 2008 and 2010. What was the difference? Massive conservative turnout in 2010, vs. depressed conservative turnout in the two previous cycles.
If the base fails to turn out to get rid of Obama
In The Hook (Diary) Thursday, January 26th at 8:27AM EST (link)Regardless of who the nominee is, we deserve to lose. The same goes if Romney can’t beat Gingrich on the merits; he deserve to lose and we all do as well.
However, just because I firmly believe that Romney needs to win on the merits and not be coronated, I also think we’d be absolutely crazy to nominate Newt. Who knows? Maybe a serious fight against Newt in Florida will sharpen Romney’s skills a bit. Make that glass jaw a plexiglass jaw.
“Hello? You play to win the game.”
Support conservatives that can win.
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