Republican Presidential Debate in Jacksonville, Florida was Rick Santorum's Night

Catholic Online ^ | 1/27/12 | Keith A Fournier

[tcg]

...I was concerned the event would degenerate into a petulant verbal battle between Gingrich and Romney. However, Rick Santorum drew applause - both from the live audience and probably from viewers around the country - when he called on both of the candidates to stop their petty personal politics.

"The bigger issue here is, these two gentlemen, who are out distracting from the most important issues -- we have been playing petty personal politics, can we set aside that Newt was a member of Congress and used the skills that he developed as a member of Congress to go out and advise companies -- and that's not the worst thing in the world.

"And that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy because worked hard and he's going out and working hard? And you guys should leave that alone and focus on the issues"

Santorum then invited the moderator, Wolf Blitzer, to focus on the real issues. Unfortunately, that took awhile...

However, the way Santorum handled that entire matter changed the progress of the debate and established him for the rest of the evening as the man with the most substance...

...His explanation of the Declaration of Independence as the "Why" of America and the Constitution the "how" was brilliant. His ringing defense of the Creator as the source of our unalienable rights - and the role of the Government to recognize and protect those rights - downright inspiring.

Finally, his explanation on the ways in which his religious beliefs would affect the way he would execute the office of the Presidency was outstanding.

While most of the pundits were expecting either Romney or Gingrich to win this important debate; clearly, this was Rick Santorum's night.

[tcg]

His explanation of the Declaration of Independence as the "Why" of America and the Constitution the "how" was brilliant. His ringing defense of the Creator as the source of our unalienable rights - and the role of the Government to recognize and protect those rights - downright inspiring. This was Santorum's night.

[SueRae]

I didn’t watch the full debate, however, Rick’s answer on Central America (posed by someone in the audience) was spot on. I don’t know if he can make the general but I have always considered Rick an expert on foreign policy and someone who knows who our enemies are and not afraid to say so. Secretary of State? He’d be an excellent candidate, IMO.

I also like his ideas on manufacturing. He is a man of his convictions...and my second choice behind Newt.

[ari-freedom]

“And that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy because worked hard and he’s going out and working hard? And you guys should leave that alone and focus on the issues”

It’s just frustrating because Romney’s tax plan is the most anemic and Newt has a flat tax, no capital gains tax...yet Romney will be hailed as the pro-capitalist candidate because of Newt’s attacks.

[ZX12R]

I thought Santorum did very well too. I really think they all did. I hate Wolf Blitzer, and I still hate Romney. And I bet that Palestinian Republican (whatever that is) left and changed parties right after the debate.

[Lady Lucky]

He did well but he will not win FL.
Gingrich or Romney will win.
It’s up to Santorum which one.
Take one for the team, Rick.

[petercooper]

He’s got a new name: Rantorum.

[Daveinyork]

“Take one for the team, Rick.”

Maybe the two quarreling children should take one for the team, and for conservatism, and support Rick.

[ZX12R]

He did well but he will not win FL. Gingrich or Romney will win. It’s up to Santorum which one. Take one for the team, Rick.

It's a shame really, because I've always liked Santorum. He's a good conservative. But you're right, whether we like it or not, it comes down to Newt or Romney being what we have to work with in a general election, and I can't vote for Romney.

Perhaps after Florida, or the next, Rick will see the light and drop out and endorse Newt. Most of his votes will go to him anyway, I think, and that will put Romney on the slide down in enough primaries, that he will have to do the same. Kicking and screaming, of course.

Then we can rally around Newt and all his warts, get him really fired up, by our being fired up, feed off each other, and begin the march to destroy the establishment GOP, and they can join our assault on Obama and his socialist, communist, marxist demon of a regime, or be run out on a rail.

We have to stop Obama and the democrats, before our country is destroyed for generations.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Santorum kicked b*tt alright, I hope millions upon millions, particularly fence sitters and the brain dead, were tuned in from sea to shining sea when he gave a brief version of “Founding Fathers Documents And Our Blessed Roots 101”. They SO need to hear this. This is something in a million years you will not hear in modern day American public schools, out of Obama’s trap, nor expressed by Obama’s sycophantic atheist liberal MSM toadies.

[PalmettoMason]

He’s got a new name: Rantorum.

I call him "Bachmann in Britches" (and NOT in a good way.)

[Durus]

The whole characterization of "two quarelling children" is pure leftist sophistry. Romney started slinging mud and Gingrich had to respond in kind. If people had bothered to attack Santorum as much he would have had to do the same thing.

For him to come out and attack Newt just shows his true colors.

[Junior_G]

Rick was really strong, especially on the issue of Romneycare. At this point, it doesn’t matter what Romney says, if Mitt is nominated it will be the greatest endorsement of Obamacare that the dems could ever hope to get.

[duckman]

IMO, too much time spent on Newt/Romney finances, tuned out early in the debate. I think Wolf set the stage for this.

[Big_Harry]

I’ll bet the big money was on Goliath way back when also!

There is only one candidate in the running that has unimpeachable credentials in the fields of integrity and character, and that is Rick Santorum. We need that kind of leadership again in this country. Whether he can win the nomination or not depends on whether he quits early, and I do not believe this man will quit.

[Joe 6-pack]

I think we are seeing the emergence of SDS (Santorum Derangement Syndrome) on many threads:

To wit:

"Rick is weak and insignificant."

"I hate Rick because he is weak and insignificant."

"If my candidate loses it's going to be all Rick's fault."

"Therefore, Rick must do what I say and drop out, or I will hate Rick even more."

[maryz]

I was just wondering how Santorum has any money left . . . anyone know?

[Lady Lucky]

http://www.ricksantorum.com/contact-us

Email, phone numbers, addresses are here. Contact Rick and urge him to take one for the team.

[ZX12R]

Maybe the two quarreling children should take one for the team, and for conservatism, and support Rick.

That's a very nice thought, but that's all it is. Newt is the only one that could generate enough widespread enthusiasm among a broad portion of the electorate, to win the next presidential election against Obama. I don't particularly like it either, but that's just the way it is.

It's not simply an election for the best conservative. It's a presidential election among the entire American electorate. It's between Gingrich and Romney, and between those two, there is no serious question about which is more conservative.

[Pinkbell]

Absolutely. If there’s one thing the libs want to whitewash, it’s American’s Christian roots.