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Republican Presidential Debate in Jacksonville, Florida was Rick Santorum's Night
Catholic Online ^ | 1/27/12 | Keith A Fournier

Posted on 01/27/2012 4:27:15 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2012debates; fl2012; gingrich; republicandebates; romney; santorum; santorum2012
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To: ZX12R

“Brilliant. I should have never tangled with you. /s “

Thanks, but I’ve been called a lot of things, most of them unflattering. I think you are the first ever to call me brilliant.


61 posted on 01/27/2012 8:04:40 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Joe 6-pack; AmericanInTokyo

That’s it, Joe! There is SDS here. Santorum derangement system.

he’s an insider — well, so is newt

He’s voted for things we don’t like - so has newt

He doesn’t have the fight in him to beat Obama - I was worried about that until this week! Santorum’s proven he’s got the fight. He brought it, wrapped it up, and blew it out of the box!

Bimbo eruptions don’t matter if they are in the past — what are we, democrats? Jennifer Flowers was in clinton’s past that superbowl Sunday too. I am not seeing Santorum bimbos popping out of the closet during the General and describing Tiger Woods-like details to the tabloids for money. Character matters.


62 posted on 01/27/2012 8:11:41 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: maryz

He has some from me today.


63 posted on 01/27/2012 8:14:08 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: phi11yguy19

JimRob, and also Sarah palin, saved us in SC from the Rominee. Newt’s crushing win in SC was the best thing to happen. At the time.


64 posted on 01/27/2012 8:18:08 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: phi11yguy19

That hardly excuses him for supporting them.

None of them are constitutional.


65 posted on 01/27/2012 8:21:03 AM PST by old curmudgeon
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To: Daveinyork

>> I thought we weren’t supposed to be tearing down candidates.

“we” who? I can only assume you mean FReepers, because the candidates and their surrogates are certainly tearing each other down! And the press is tearing them all down.

There was a time when it was good and right to let them all be heard and refrain from attacks.

We’re past that time. Unless the field is weeded out pronto, there will be a four way firing squad that will damage them ALL, come november. IMHO. For the good of the nation, the two worst (and worst performing) candidates need to man up and drop out. Pronto. That’s Santorum and Paul.

Anyway, a candidate has been endorsed by the owner of this forum! Happens to align with my thinking, too. That being the case, should I button my lip while Santorum and his surrogates here and elsewhere rip Gingrich? Sorry, won’t happen.


66 posted on 01/27/2012 8:39:43 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
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To: Daveinyork

>> the only leftists who have created this characterization are Mitt and Newt.

Uh, I thought we weren’t supposed to be tearing candidates down. :-)


67 posted on 01/27/2012 8:42:10 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
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To: Nervous Tick

“Anyway, a candidate has been endorsed by the owner of this forum! Happens to align with my thinking, too. That being the case, should I button my lip while Santorum and his surrogates here and elsewhere rip Gingrich? Sorry, won’t happen.”

I don’t intend to button my lip, either. I was just doing what I do to liberals, what they have been doing to us for a long time, according to their guru, Alinsky, make your opponents live by their own rules.


68 posted on 01/27/2012 8:43:44 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Nervous Tick

“Uh, I thought we weren’t supposed to be tearing candidates down. :-)”

See 68


69 posted on 01/27/2012 8:45:07 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Junior_G

” if Mitt is nominated it will be the greatest endorsement of Obamacare that the dems could ever hope to get.”

Absolutely. It’ll take all the wind out of our sales and invalidate any objections to Obamacare. I wish Romneybots would look ahead at the Big Picture and understand what a war will be waged against the GOP in the general election. It’s typical for dems to not be able to think past the next step, but we’re smarter than that. At least, we’re supposed to be.


70 posted on 01/27/2012 8:45:10 AM PST by MayflowerMadam (Don't blame me; I voted for the American.)
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To: Daveinyork

>> make your opponents live by their own rules

If I’m your opponent, as you insinuate (I hope that’s not truly the case, except maybe in the debate role), then what’s the gain in insisting I live by a rule that *isn’t* my own?

I never particularly liked nor supported that rule. And I’ve never played that card on anyone, either.


71 posted on 01/27/2012 8:49:00 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
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To: phi11yguy19

Apparently Spector promised in exchange for his support to back whatever R judge nominees came up as head of the Judiciary Committee. He stood by the promise and helped 2 of the most conservative justices get appointed against a flurry of attacks. Santorum went “big picture” over single vote.


Wow, and lost his seat fighting for us. See, that is an unselfish public servant. It’s all about the big picture and you have to be satisfied personally first so your goals are outside yourself. Narcissists can’t serve anyone but themselves.


72 posted on 01/27/2012 8:51:46 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: Nervous Tick

haha, the double-equals sign just jumped out as a C/Java guy.


73 posted on 01/27/2012 8:58:02 AM PST by phi11yguy19
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To: tcg

I agree Rick was very very good. If there were a bit more time, he might have gotten a bigger bump in Florida. He may still do well there, but it’ll be tough.


74 posted on 01/27/2012 9:02:18 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat
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To: ZX12R

That Palestinian question was a setup if I ever saw one. Yeah, we are supposed to believe this issue is burning up the Republican party? Gimme a break.


75 posted on 01/27/2012 9:04:50 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat
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To: rbmillerjr
...as if the other more conservative R would not have supported the R nominees.

The "other more conservative R" was Pat Toomey. The point you're missing is not one vote, which was identical whether it was Spector or Toomey. The point was that Spector was head of the Senate Judiciary Committee and he had the pull to influence those picks where Toomey would not. And he kept his word and used that pull to get those picks through.

Those appointments in nearly every estimate would not have been John Roberts and Samuel Alito if not for Spector (again, much to my dismay because I haaate Spector). The embarrassing FAIL would be our country if we wouldn't have won those seats, and I'm really not sure how you criticize Santorum for supporting one of the most important USSC victories in recent time.
76 posted on 01/27/2012 9:05:57 AM PST by phi11yguy19
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To: Yaelle
JimRob, and also Sarah palin, saved us in SC from the Rominee. Newt’s crushing win in SC was the best thing to happen. At the time.

Sorry, but SC didn't do us any favors with McLame, and I doubt they're doing us any now.

Sad thing about FL is that so many absentee ballots have already been cast. IMO, there was a lot new to learn about all of the candidates on Thursday, yet many voters missed that with premature votes.
77 posted on 01/27/2012 9:11:22 AM PST by phi11yguy19
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To: Recovering_Democrat
That Palestinian question was a setup if I ever saw one. Yeah, we are supposed to believe this issue is burning up the Republican party? Gimme a break.

When I saw him introduced and listened to that guy ask his question, I just sat there in utter disbelief. Just staring and mystified. Pondering what answers might come. Then....

I started laughing so hard I practically passed out! My wife came running into the room like she was going to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on me or something.
78 posted on 01/27/2012 9:18:00 AM PST by ZX12R (FUBO GTFO 2012 ! We should take off and Newt washington from orbit.)
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To: old curmudgeon
That hardly excuses him for supporting them.

None of them are constitutional.


Well some of them are in fact constitutional/federal issues (some copyright and trademark theft - depending on scope), and others I'm not sure where he supported anything "unconstitutional".

Re: Marriage, abortion, etc., he supports pushing for constitutional amendments for those. That's all a president can do is express his opinion and ask Congress or the states to pick it up from there within their Constitutional guidelines.

On the flip side, Newt (and a little Mitt) keeps talking about all the Executive Orders he'd pass to circumvent the Constitution, the Congress, the Supreme Court, etc. This is the precedent you prefer?
79 posted on 01/27/2012 9:19:13 AM PST by phi11yguy19
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To: Yaelle
Wow, and lost his seat fighting for us. See, that is an unselfish public servant. It’s all about the big picture and you have to be satisfied personally first so your goals are outside yourself. Narcissists can’t serve anyone but themselves.

Agreed. The governemnt's unfortunately completely upside-down:
- 1 President can assume more power than any Founder envisioned
- 5 USSC Justices can create new or flip existing law on it's head in an instant.
- Way below them are the power of 51 Senators or 218 Congressmen.

It's a sad state of affairs, but I appreciate anyone who acknowledges the reality and acts accordingly, even if it costs them their job.
80 posted on 01/27/2012 9:25:19 AM PST by phi11yguy19
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