[Cincinatus' Wife]

Rick is having trouble finding and expressing a message. He needs to have something to run on other than being the anti-Mitt.

Mitt's "next in line" problem and inability to connect to "ordinary" people with a powerful message is obvious.

Newt connects and he's turned around a state and a party to show his ability to lead and inspire (and rub the GOP-e the wrong way).

Oh, and Newt doesn't need to apologize and explain away a liberal voting record due to the political landscape.

UNLIKE Rick and Mitt, Newt Gingrich didn't sit on his laurels complaining about the liberal political landscape of his state. Newt CHANGED the political landscape in GA (as he did in Washington), brought Democrats into the party, rallied people to get involved in politics -- all by pushing conservatism.

________________________________________

"ATLANTA — It wasn't so long ago that the Republican Party in Georgia was just an afterthought, and Democrats were in firm control of all the levers of state government. Back then, Newt Gingrich and other die-hard GOP stalwarts ventured across the state with the far-fetched message that Republicans could reverse the tide.

Now with commanding majorities in the Statehouse and control of all statewide offices, Gingrich is hoping his vision for how the GOP could overcome decades of Democratic dominance in Georgia will pay dividends. He sorely needs a victory when his home state votes Tuesday, along with a big chunk of its 76 delegates, to prove his stumbling presidential bid has staying power.

Many Republican figures in Georgia still credit him with championing conservative policies, outlining a framework for what a GOP majority in the state could accomplish and broadcasting talking points to a generation of up-and-coming conservative leaders. He's also applauded for lobbying conservative Democrats, like then-Rep. Nathan Deal, to switch parties.

"Everyone else was trying to lose as slowly as possible, and to die with dignity at the Alamo. He was talking confidently that the Republican majority in Georgia, in the South and nationally was right around the corner," said Ralph Reed, a veteran Georgia GOP operative who founded the national Faith and Freedom Coalition. "On the one hand it was crazy, but on the other it was just the most exciting thing you've ever heard.".....................In Ga., Gingrich helped build conservative base

[Guenevere]

Rick Santorum and his sweet family connect with the people!

The whole family is making a sacrifice because they love our country------ they know they have to count the costs.....and they find it worthy, very worthy!......

...Karen Santorum and the children love their dad....they believe and support what he's trying to do!....the oldest daughter, Elizabeth, is taking a year off from college to help her dad.

..and if you don't think being part of a 24/7 political campaign is anything but a sacrifice you should try it sometime.....ask any of the candidates.

...All the Santorum family is charming, engaging and genuine!

[Irenic]

So are their rental properties their savings account.

According to Santorum’s public financial disclosure form, he makes an income of $15,001 to $50,000 per apartment annually on rent and royalties from the residences.

Santorum is the landlord of five apartments in Beaver Plaza — 304, 306, 603, 604 and 610 — that have a net worth of $100,001 to $250,000 each.
http://uwire.com/2012/03/02/rick-santorum-landlord-for-several-penn-state-students/

[Pietro]

Mrs Cincinatus,

I have a great deal of respect for you, but while you are busy posting hit pieces on Santorum, Romney is waltzing away w/ the nomination.

You need to think very carefully.

[j.argese]

Santorum lacks a message because he lacks intellect.

[Irenic]

So Santorum's message is by necessity a different one, some might say a more principled one. Santorum mentioned "liberty" three times; none for Romney, and "rights" five times to none for Romney. He reminded us that "we are a great country because we believe that rights don't come from the government."

I think maybe that tunnel focus is a bit of his lawyer skirt showing. Speaking of suffering, money and lawyers...whatever happened to the money the Santorums sued for? You know, the type of lawsuit that has driven up medical and insurance costs (made his wife feel fat and she couldn't campaign)? Maybe that is their savings account? Or how about that charity money...oh, that's right they disappeared that charity.

Mitt Romney on a message of job creation, especially following Romney's revamped jobs and tax plan which economic conservatives, including the Wall Street Journal's editorial page praised (though acknowledging that it, like the other candidates' plans, is not without flaws).

Just this morning I was reading about what a bad tax plan Romney has and this isn't the first time I've read such. I think I heard yesterday that Team Romney also wants to up the gasoline tax?!

Instead, Romney gives us tax-bracket tweaking and — this is rich, coming from a guy who hardly pays income taxes, since his wealth derives largely from capital gains — “limits placed on deductions, exemptions, and credits that are currently available” on “higher-income Americans.” Explain to me again how Romney is a conservative?

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/292887/wanted-deus-ex-machina-michael-walsh

Analysis: Romney tax plan strongly favors the rich

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57389459-503544/analysis-romney-tax-plan-strongly-favors-the-rich/

Many more negative Romney tax plan analysis out there...

[throwback]

Santorum has an excellent message and connects well with people. That's why he's the leading not-Romney in the field. Even Henninger in today's WSJ (who doesn't like Santorum) admits he connects and hits it out of the park against Romneycare. The Gingrich supporters don't get it that they have to pull voters off of Romney to have any real prospects. If Santorum broke up and disappeared, Gingrich would only get some of the Santorum votes, but he would still be left with being unable to be viable alternative to Romney.

[tnlibertarian]

Talking about "living off our savings," something many unemployed Americans only wish they had as a fall-back position, also struck a discordant note from the Republican most trying to portray himself as a "man of the people."

I am no Santorum fan, having proudly cast my Newt vote on Tuesday, but this seems a bit of a reach. If unemployed Americans didn't have savings as a fall back position, whose fault was that? My wife and I do, and we aren't rich. I know I couldn't live off of mine as long as Santorum could, but we have sacrificed things like new cars and trips to make sure we had a rainy day fund. The author later berates Rick saying it was his choice to have a large family. Well, not having savings to fall back on is a choice, too.

[Eva]

Daniel Henninger of the WSJ disagrees. He says that Santorum has exactly the right message for this campaign, the ONLY right message and that message has nothing to do with social issues.

Santorum and Freedom

This is a big switch for Henninger, all of the WSJ people have been supporting Romney. Henninger is supporting Santorum.