Newt making a comeback despite all his horrendous flaws, and Buffet calling out congress for Romney's absurd tax rate.
So is Romney done -- if so is it going to be Newt? Santorum blew himself up with his abortion comments. This has to be the worst field of repubs ever.
Repubs can't win this. Santorum is too far right on the social scale, Paul is too outside the mainstream, and Gingrich is just flat out unelectable. This is a gift to Romney, if he can barely win against this crowd, how can we expect him to lead the country?
Romney's not done. This recent fling with Newt was just a hookup with an old, very flawed ex. A panic as they realized they'd be walking up the aisle with Mitt...just for old time sake. But even they know it will never work with Newt. Soon, he'll remind them of why they broke up in the first place...that he's just not good for them long term ...and they'll settle for Mitt...Boring old Mitt.
What we have here is the same kind of set up that engendered nominations for Sharon Angle and Christine O'Donnell. The base vs. the establishment. The sane vs. the crazy. The "RINO's" vs. the "taxed-enough-already patriots". A true battle for the soul of the GOP being fought out by two severely flawed candidates. It is truly unfortunate that presidentials are largely likability contests but they just are. And Mitt's unlikable ratings are presently vaulting through the roof, especially with independents (don't forget: this was supposed to be his strength). In other words, they are almost as bad as Newt's, whose are worse than just about anyone's. Mitt's tax returns are going to be the gift that keeps on giving wrt the seminal poll question asked in various ways that always boils down to "which candidate do you feel best understands the problems of people like you." Mitt loses that going away with his wealth, his tone-deaf 10K bets and references to nearly 400K as not much money. He loses the central debate of the election when Americans look at his tax rate and the advantage he's taken of offshore accounts. "Swiss bank account" is not a cliche for nothing: he had one and it was shut down because it was expected to be, as quoted by a Mitt staffer, "politically embarrassing." Want to know why he didn't release earlier returns? That's one of the reasons. Anybody remember "I'm running for office, for Pete's sake?" Let's dig a little deeper. Mitt paid half the going rate for his maids. So he's filthy rich, games the system and is cheap with the help? In other words, "working people?" Mitt himself said two debates ago that we need someone that's been "in the streets." Is he freaking kidding? Anybody believe Mitt's been "in the streets?" It's hard to imagine he even wipes his own ass for himself. And of course he can't say boo about Obamacare. He is the only candidate that literally can't say boo about it. Please note that nowhere in there did I mention his serially opportunistic flip flops, his authenticity problem, his weird factor, his tone deaf jokes, the family dog he strapped to the top of his car to drive cross country or his religion. Those were supposed to be his problems. And they still would be but they deserve scant mention relative to the issues above. And then there's Newt, the candidate that reminds me most of myself I'm sorry to say. He is not just erratic. I believe he is bipolar and is a textbook narcissist. I think the odds are now nearly 33/33/33% that it will be Mitt/Newt/someone that isn't currently in the race. The someone that isn't in the race could jump in after Florida if Newt wins there or could arrive at the last minute via a brokered convention. This candidate-to-be-named-later/brokered convention fantasy comes up every election cycle and every election cycle it doesn't happen. If that tradition holds true, Obama wins. The GOP cannot win with any of the candidates presently running. Mark it.
Doesn't it seem strange that the party of "family values" wants to replace a man who adores his family with a serial adulterer?
I said he reminded me of me; not that he was me. I am bipolar, yes. I am not a narcissist. Real nice too how you freak out when people use the word "r****d" but have no problem taking swipes at the mentally ill.
Obama loves his kids so much that he takes them out of government "schools" and put them in schools for the 1%.
had no idea you were really mentally ill. i meant no offense, but one could see how that info, and your, uhm, florid posting style, might appear (to the unaware) to be connected. and if you're really mentally ill, how do you know you're not a narcissist?
I think Romney is done and has been for a long time. People just couldn't admit it. He's the classic naked empreror candidate. Excellent analysis by Bats as to why. Gingrich? His national approval rating is in the mid-20's. Among the wingers, he's innoculated against his words and behavior to some degree, but he will absolutley crater among everyone else in the country the second he steps on the podium to deliver his acceptance speech. Plus, the establishment hates him. If he, by some dark miracle, actually became president, he would be uncontrollable, which is not how the Repub establishment (or America) likes their presidents. If president, he would also morph into Gollum as his already stupendous character flaws would be magnified by constantly wearing the ring or power. Paul? No chance. A minority of a minority (a dedicated one no doubt, but still a minority of a minority) support him and the establishment hates him almost as much as they do Gingrich. As for someone else, I think it is too late. Too late to get on ballots, too late to build a national organization. Convention? How are you going to get Romney, Gingrich, and Paul delegates to compromise on someone else when their whole message is to not compromise? Who does that leave? Yep, Santorum. When I saw Gingrich win SC I thought the only option is Santorum. He's malleable enough for the establishment, he's conservative enough for the wingers, he's not Paul, he's not Gingrich, he's not Romney, and he can probably be dressed up enough by consultants to come off as presentable... if not likable and intelligent. If Newt wins, it is only because the base really wants to have their fantasies fed by his rhetoric. I think that is the case, but I also think the establishment is still strong enough to push the alternative, Santorum, though it is getting close to the point where they won't be able to capture Frankenstein in time. Fact is, the small group of Repubs on the A list looked at this race and saw that even with the 2010 election and aftermath, beating Obama will be really tough and they punted. Now, the GOP is left with a ridiculous slate of potential candidates and little hope of changing that dynamic. Like I said earlier, Obama's running for Congress. The presidency is close to being a gimme and gets closer every day Moe, Larry, and the two Curleys remain.
No, I'm pretty sure you did mean offense and this post does nothing to counter that impression. And in answer to the last question, he knows in part because he's a Liberal Democrat and not a Randian Republican.
If people didn't know already about Rick's position on abortion, gay rights, and contraception, judging by the previous 3 debates he looks absolutely like the most straightforward non-crazy guy of the bunch. Shall I even say the most electable?
All this "sure thing" talk is crazy talk. I get the logic put forward and the relative weakness of the GOP candidates, but the betting line is still south of 60% for Obama, and that's with good reason.
as crazy as it sounds paul is the only one who could beat obama in the general election. republicans will never vote for obama no matter what. democrats will vote obama no surprise there. who's left, independents. and paul does very well in this space. so paul is the only republican candidate who can get the republican and a portion of the independent vote. so if the republicans want any chance at a victory crazy ron paul should be their guy.
