[Darkwolf377]

He's still up 2.4% nationally

I just clicked the link--1.8% nationally.

I don't think Newt can beat Obama. I wish I didn't believe that.

[Lazlo in PA]

I don't think one can afford to be too fickle about the color, esp if you are advocating that we bet the fate of the USA on a lame, uncharismatic candidate like Santorum that got whipped by 20 lengths last time he hit the track... just because he ticks all the boxes.

Weak slam on Santorum. He lost 1 race in a terrible year in a deep blue state. Newt basically got shown the door when he was Speaker from a House revolt. That didn't look good either. I will stay with my principles and back Santorum just because he "ticks off all the boxes" for me.

[I still care]

I was watching Morris on Fox the other night. I know a lot of FReepers don’t like him, and his track record can be spotty, but every so often he hits the nail on the head.

Basically, he said Newt is less electable than Romney but real conservatives have a problem with his morality, and Romney seems more electable but people have problems with him also, and Santorum seems to be one of the few conservative choices left.

But he said Gingrich isn’t out, and looks for him to take SC, and feels then that could give him new momentum for FL.

I remember last time around they hit FL like a pack, and then the day before the primary Crist came out with his arm around McCain. And McCain won FL, to my huge chagrin. So while I always disliked Crist, I really disliked him after that.

[Timber Rattler]

No Newt! People keep trying to promote him based on his record as Speaker 14 years ago, all the while ignoring his backstabbing RINO foolishness since then.

I'll take Santorum any day over Newt, despite how much you howl about it.

Newt Gingrich endorses Dede Scozzafava in NY-23 House race

Gingrich Explains Scozzafava Endorsement, Slams Right-Wing Critics

Memo to Gingrich: Get Lost. Now

Gingrich Backs Obamacare's Individual Mandate Requiring Health Insurance

Gingrich donors dropping like flies

Bill Bennett to Gingrich: You’re Shooting at [Paul Ryan] From Behind! (Testy Radio Interview)

Mark Levin grills Newt Gingrich on his comments about Paul Ryan’s plan

Gingrich Calls GOP Medicare Plan 'Right-Wing Social Engineering' (supports individual mandate)

Gingrich Backs Obamacare's Individual Mandate Requiring Health Insurance (Newt praises Romneycare)

Gingrich Backs Obamacare's Individual Mandate

Gingrich Apologizes to Paul Ryan for 'Right-Wing Social Engineering' Criticism

Gingrich: ‘Strategic Blunder’ for Palin to Mock Obama as ‘Community Organizer’

Palin Accuses Gingrich of Caving to the Media

Newt Gingrich Acknowledges ‘Contradictions’ On His Libya Views, ‘I Was Trying To Follow Obama’

Gingrich: My Ad on Global Warming with Pelosi was a "Debate," I will "Not Apologize"

Kerry and Gingrich Hugging Trees -- and (Almost) Each Other

Newt Gingrich Al Sharpton Education Tour (VIDEO)

Gingrich cashed in supporting subsidies for big business (Ethanol)

Gingrich think tank collected millions from health-care industry ($37 million & MANDATE)

Newt calls for ‘humane’ immigration policy

Gingrich 'prepared to take the heat' with talk of amnesty ("Let's be humane in enforcing the law")

Slapping Romney, DNC stands up for Gingrich immigration stand

On Newt's 'humane' immigration policy (Thomas Sowell)

ENDING THE DISHONESTY: THE WAY FORWARD ON BORDER CONTROL AND PATRIOTIC IMMIGRATION

When Newt Gingrich fought for the moderates

Gingrich’s environmental proposals include altering climate with giant mirrors

[American Constitutionalist]

" I don't think one can afford to be too fickle about the color, esp if you are advocating that we bet the fate of the USA on a lame, uncharismatic candidate like Santorum that got whipped by 20 lengths last time he hit the track... just because he ticks all the boxes. "

As Reagan said " there you go again " .....
This cult of Newt is sickening.... just as sickening as the cult of Romney 4 years ago.


" just because he ticks all the boxes. " ... interpretation: because he lines up to what most conservatives want in a candidate.

The liberals and the MSM will make mince meat of Newt in the general election., he has to many negatives.
On the other side, Newt does not appeal to true pure conservatives.
To many people are caught up in this thing where we have to pick the most charming, the most eloquent speaker as if we are voting for a American Idol president.
Sorry, conservatives who have principles and convictions vote with their conservative convictions and principles... and Newt does not line up with what I believe in, for example, Newt has already compromised and went to the dark side in the global warming hoax.

The Chester Cat smile on Newt says it all, I don't trust him.

I am not going to compromise in what I believe in just so we can have the best debater, or most eloquent speaker.

I don't care what the Newt punks say, when they say that those who don't support Newt are helping Romney, I was supporting Herman Cain before he dropped out, and Newt was not even on the radar at the time.

[nathanbedford]

In a few days beginning with the Iowa caucus we will begin in earnest the process of winnowing away candidates and focusing on the two or three who have a realistic chance of being the nominee.

For example, Michelle Bachmann is almost certainly coming to the end of her run and cannot be expected to be considered a factor in New Hampshire and thereafter. Rick Perry will not do well in Iowa nor will he do well in New Hampshire. His persistence in the race can only be a function of deep pockets. Expect him to be gone after South Caroline.

Ron Paul is in the process of being dismantled as a viable candidate for the bulk of the party which had been aware only of his foreign policy deficiencies as these voters now become aware of his disqualifying views expressed about Jews and blacks in his newsletter. Paul will retain his fanatical followers but the rest of the party will regard Paul as purely marginal, his surge is probably already finished and his support will taper off to its irreducible core of fanatics.

Gingrich's lost 20 points in as many days which demonstrates that he is vulnerable to a negative ad campaign, at least when he has no money with which to conduct an air war on paid media. Free media, of which Gingrich is a master, has simply not been able to stanch the flow of blood. Gingrich will not do well in New Hampshire and he faces a make or break in south Carolina. If he does not have money for South Carolina he is probably finished because it appears that he runs out of supporters before Romney runs out of negative ad money.

Santorum is experiencing a mini surge in Iowa as the next and perhaps last conservative hope. Santorum has an advantage over Rick Perry in that he has not been closely scrutinized before by the bulk of the Republican electorate and he has not been rejected as a klutz. It remains to be seen whether Santorum's apparent absence of baggage will make them less vulnerable to the Romney/establishment attacks which are bound to come if Santorum shows signs in the Iowa caucus vote of threatening Romney's position.

Rodney looks like the sure winner out of Iowa and one can expect that to be coupled with a win in New Hampshire shortly thereafter. Therefore, the leader for the nomination is clearly Romney at this point. There are only two threats to Romney, Gingrich who is fading, and Santorum who might or might not be surging. Although these challengers to Romney have little money and will be hard-pressed to win an air war in South Carolina and especially in Florida.

So one can expect the field to be reduced to three, Romney, Santorum, and Gingrich, and probably in that order, at the end of Iowa and almost certainly after New Hampshire. The last place to stop Romney appears to be in South Carolina.

[Grunthor]

I’d vote for Gingrich over Obama or Romney. That’s about as nice a thing as I can say about him.

I wouldn’t vote for Romney on a bet.

[Rational Thought]

“Charisma” is a funny thing. While it's not a requirement to become President (remember George Bush during the 2000 election?), it's a desirable attribute.

I have never considered Romney, nor Obama, to be charismatic, regardless of what the media tells me. In a debate setting, I have found Gingrich charismatic, but not for years as a political pundit on TV and radio.

As for Santorum, at times during the debates, given his very limited camera time, I found him articulate, intelligent and persuasive. Like Gingrich, I never witnessed charisma when doing his TV work. But, if he indeed carries (or has carried) that same debate posture over to his campaign speeches and town halls (of which I've never seen him in person), I don't believe that the “lack of charisma” criticism will stick. Time will tell.

[RSmithOpt]

Let's face, the powers that be will not offer a true charismatic conservative for the GOP to pimp for the 2012 election.

I think the election in 2012, like 2008, has already been decided and out of our hands.

My point being that how could with all the lawyers in the DNC, the GOP, the US Congress, the states, the 2008 GOP primary candidates, the MSM, etc never ask the question in 2008 was BO Sr., ever a US citizen? Why not? Cause 'the fix' was in.

They needed an incompetent puppet to occupy the Oval Office and an ignorant electorate to feel good about electing him so the NWO could continue to dismantle the US.

Think about it....look what happened to Palin and Cain (Obummer & the DNC & the LSM couldn't play the class/race card if Cain ever became viable).....some group behind the scenes knew such strong conservatives (either) could not be manipulated easily once in the White House.....so 'they' went after their families. The GOP top brass going to AK for Murky is another example.

Ask this question: Why would the media, Wall Street, Congress, the White House, Freddie/Fannie, etc., etc., pimp an artificial housing boom beginning in 2003 knowing full well growth in the US population and upcoming retirement of the baby boomers did not warrant such expansion?

I pose these few questions in hopes that some may be fully aware of the dog & pony show that continues.

Obama and his ilk have seriously damaged the US economy while Congress continues to kick the can down the road.

The GOP may squeak out a win in 2012, however, they will be left holding the blame as a very sick global economy with too many domestic rules, laws, regulations, etc., are now already in place and not to take effect until after the 2012 election.

I really enjoy reading FReepers' comments about the potential candidates regardless. Forgive my being off-topic to some degree. In the meantime, the Big Goobermint Guard Dog (US Senate) still blocks all sensible legislation to protect the lives of the DC elite.

So, what's the reason now the already approved Keystone Pipeline can't be started? Oh, that's right, the Dems do not want the US nor the middle class to prosper. That would go completely against the grain of forced socialist serfdom. Fast & Furious and the DOJ suing states over Voter ID requirements are 2 ongoing examples of such BS being forced upon us.

[rintense]

Sure do love his platform... as I do Bachmann's. But the problem is that this 'Santorum surge' is coming purely at Newt's expense

I've never understood this mentality. If a candidate ends up losing support, how is it the fault of another one, especially considering conservative credentials? This line is nothing more than another example of entitlement, the 'my guy is in the lead so everyone else better fall in line'.

So don't blame the loss of support on another candidate. Put the blame where it belongs- Newt (and all other 'leaders' who blamed another candidate for their falling numbers).

[Wyatt's Torch]

It’s Santorum’s turn to be “not Romney”. The battle has always been between Romney and “not Romney”.

First Bachman was “not Romney”; then Perry; then Cain; then Gingrich; now Santorum.

I’ve been saying for over a year that Romney will be the nominee. And he will lose to Obama. Because the GOP is just that stupid.

[sphinx]

But the problem is that this 'Santorum surge' is coming purely at Newt's expense- and a direct result of underhanded scumbag Mitt Romney and his ma$$ive war chest, training the heavy guns on Gingrich 24/7 in Iowa. Now it's rumored that Michele Bachmann's surprisingly vicious attacks upon Newt -while largely laying off Romney- means she's angling for a VP slot.

I have always been a Newt fan, but I am also one of those who thinks his famous baggage makes him unelectable. Unfortunate, but there we are.

If Newt's numbers -- in Iowa -- collapse after a week of relatively gentle needling from Romney, Bachman, and other Republicans, what do you think will happen in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, and other battleground states, most of them less conservative than Iowa, when Obama puts a billion dollars into a scorched earth big lie campaign?

Back in the day, the iron triangle of battleship design was armor, gunnery, and speed; the naval architects had to allocate weight among those three major factors. The U.S.S. Newt is a battleship with a terrific main battery and admirable speed, with no armor. A couple of hits below the waterline and he's sunk.