Free Republic

Pretending that Romney is the real frontrunner, the pundits and the press contend that the 2012 GOP presidential contest will be a re-run of the GOP 2008 race: the establishmentarian who is next in line will win. This is a prejudice masquerading as an insight. Yes, that’s been the Republican pattern, arguably, since 1968. And Romney may well win the nomination: he’s got mountains of money from donors, an impressive team in key primary states, a near-flawless performance in debates and an array of White House-quality policy advisers. Still, Romney seems to hit a ceiling of roughly 25% in nearly...

The New Hampshire Primary is a must win for hometown Mitt Romney, but the sudden surge of Herman Cain has now put a threat to Romney’s huge lead in New Hampshire. In a recent Insider Advantage poll Herman Cain rose to 24% while Romney has fallen to 39%. Romney has been as high as 45% in previous polls. Romney has been slipping in recent New Hampshire polls, some believe due to his pressure to move the Nevada Caucus ahead of the New Hampshire Primary. mitt-romney-town-hall-new-hampshire A win for Herman Cain in Iowa could give him the momentum to make the...

It’s not quite an endorsement in the literal sense, but when someone donates out of her own pocket to a candidate’s campaign and then defends him in the media, there’s not much nuance in that position. Christine O’Donnell lashed out at conservative critics of Mitt Romney after making a $250 donation to his campaign, and told ABC News that she might decide to max out her personal contribution. As for her endorsement, O’Donnell says she’s “70 percent” behind Romney at the moment: Christine O’Donnell, the former Republican Senate candidate and a Tea Party favorite during the 2010 election, said in...

...Mitt Romney is basing his campaign on his superior business savvy. Good thing, since we would not want to look too closely at RomneyCare in Massachusetts. It not only embraced the unconstitutional individual mandate, but it extended coverage for abortion in the Bay State. Romney says he does not want to sign the Susan B. Anthony pledge to defund all outfits that kill the unborn. Why? Because that would cut off federal funds to hospitals that do abortions. Yet, he doubtless believes he can sell us on "building a culture of life." That lovely phrase from the late Pope John...

The Link above says it all. This is the Map that President Obama and his team of political advisors will strive for in 2012. With the economy further deteriorating, his chances of re-election seem bleak. But the Electoral College provides one clear, very plausible path to reelection. In essence, the strategy is the following: (1) Hold the Solid Blue states that have not voted Republican in the last 24 years (2) Maintain the gains made in Hispanic Voters By AND (3) Using the Weakness of Romney/Perry in a particular State to keep it Blue (4) Cede the “Fickle 5” (as...

<p>Our purpose and goal on FR is to restore, defend, preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States and to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity!!</p> <p>The goal of the domestic enemy (the left), i.e., the statist liberals, Marxists and progressives is just the opposite.</p>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitt Romney's early success in the Republican presidential race is challenging the tea party's clout. Will it continue to pull the GOP sharply right? Will it slowly fade? Or merge with mainstream Republican elements in a nod to pragmatism, something it's hardly known for? On the surface, Romney's strength seems at odds with the tea party's fiery success in ousting Republicans seen as compromisers, and in making the House GOP caucus more ideological, even when its leaders plead for flexibility. Romney defends the government's 2008 bank bailouts, plus the mandated health insurance he initiated as Massachusetts governor....

After watching the GOP presidential debate the other night, it was hard to avoid this conclusion: Mitt Romney looks more and more like the GOP presidential nominee. He's the best debater. He's got his issues and his rejoinders down pat. He brushes away his opponents like lint on his lapel. And all with such ease. That said, there's a teensy problem he just can't seem to beat: Conservatives don't like him. Or trust him. Or really want him to be the GOP nominee. Sure, you say, Republicans never like their nominees, and they still manage to vote for them. There...

According to the survey, which was released Monday, 28 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they support Perry as their party's presidential nominee, with Romney at 21 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at ten percent, with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who's making his third bid for the White House, former Godfather's Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, all at seven percent. The poll indicates that Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is at four percent, with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at three...

Romney is Obama-Lite. Take the simple pledge: I will not vote for Romney for any reason.

Health care remains one of President Barack Obama's greatest political weaknesses. The issue remains an equally serious problem for Republican Mitt Romney. President Obama's program to centralize medical decision-making in Washington remains as unpopular as ever. Insurers are raising premiums and canceling policies. The president's promise that Americans can keep their existing coverage has turned out to be void. Health care providers and insurers are cutting back operations and dropping jobs to comply with the new law. Washington has been forced to issue temporary waivers — over 1400, as of mid-June — to moderate the legislation's impact. Moreover, ObamaCare has...

Palin fires shot at Romney at Bunker Hill By NBC's Shawna Thomas, Alex Moe, and Mark Murray In remarks made at Bunker Hill in Massachusetts -- of all places -- Sarah Palin fired a shot at Mitt Romney over the health-care mandate that Romney signed into law in the state in 2006.The remarks came just before Romney formally announces his presidential bid in nearby New Hampshire, which Palin also plans to visit later today."In my opinion, any mandate coming from government is not a good thing, so obviously ... there will be more the explanation coming from former governor, Romney,...

The fact is that Mitt Romney is an unprincipled chameleon with ZERO core beliefs... a synthetic, calculated opportunism has taken their place. Meanwhile, most of what he actually has said and done betrays a Big-Government social liberal. Other fun facts regarding this 'conservative' fraud'spast actions, positions, and failures: refused to endorse the 1994 GOP "Contract with America" distanced himself from the Reagan legacy: "I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush" lost GOP House seats in both Massachusetts elections of his tenure, 2004/2006 (leaving Republicans with the least # of seats there since the Civil War)   strongly supported gay rights...

Once upon a time there was a president, wavering in popularity. He was deemed by some political pundits as “highly beatable.” He had just done his whole thing with health care, which left voters fuming, and two years before the presidential election, Republicans picked up a slew of seats in the House, taking control. But then, the Republican Party did the unthinkable: It gave the nomination to a guy because it was essentially “his turn,” and the candidate got shellacked by the incumbent Democratic president. That president was Bill Clinton; the “It’s His Turn” candidate was Bob Dole; the year,...

Republican politicians rushed to defend Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour yesterday, after she told the Herald she deserves another chance as she prepares to fight off a challenger in the new year. State Rep. Jeff Perry (R-Sandwich), who failed in his bid to win an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Nassour has done the best she could for the party. “I think the party in Massachusetts is heading in a new direction, and I think it’s going to get better as we head into the next election,” Perry said. He said he doesn’t blame Nassour for...

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is also a presumptive candidate for President in the 2012 election, which was a topic of conversation on The Tonight Show last night. Host Jay Leno opened the light, if not somewhat boring interview with questions about a potential White House bid, to which Romney replied, “If you ever see me sign up for a gig on Fox News, it’ll be a clear indication that I’ve decided to run for president,” adding “that’s not in the cards anytime soon, thanks.” It was a gentle yet pointed dig at the cable news channel who includes on...

Opinion: History Says Mitt's the Man for 2012 Michael Medved Contributor AOL News (Nov. 29) -- Conventional wisdom says the battle for the GOP nomination in 2012 is wide open and unpredictable, but Republican history suggests that there is an obvious front runner who is nearly certain to represent his party in the presidential race. For nearly 70 years -- long before most of the current contenders were even born -- GOP leaders and primary voters have displayed a shockingly consistent tendency to pick a candidate whose previous national campaign, whether successful or not, suggested it was "his turn." This...

Former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney is looking to recapture the limelight from pop culture and new media megastar Sarah Palin when he sits down with “Tonight Show” retread Jay Leno tomorrow night in a move some GOP observers dismiss as straight out of TV’s dark ages. “On the hipness scale, this is far from Bristol Palin on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ It’s more like Richard Nixon on ‘Laugh In,’ ” scoffed Democratic consultant Scott Ferson.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney will have to grapple with the growing political clout of Tea Party activists — many of whom are steaming mad about his role in Massachusetts’ universal health care — as he gears up for a likely 2012 GOP presidential bid, party activists said yesterday. “It’s gonna be something he’s going to have to explain — and it might just be a disaster for him,” said Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party.

Despite its considerable gains in the midterm elections, the GOP has a problem looming in the margins named Sarah Palin. She who can rouse the base like none other is now She to Whom Respect Must Be Paid. Like it or not. Many within the so-called party establishment don't quite know what to do about Palin. She's adored by Tea Partyers, to whom she conveniently attached herself as soon as she sensed a shift in the air. A rogue like Palin isn't going to let a rogue movement fill a stadium - or a desert - without her. She also...