Tuesday's "Stunning" Santorum Sweep: Six Takeaways

The Week ^ | February 08, 2012

[Steelfish]

The link in "The Week" encapsulates six takeaways from Santorum's win. Do you agree with any or all of them?

http://theweek.com/article/index/224154/tuesdays-stunning-santorum-sweep-6-takeaways

[Steelfish]

http://theweek.com/article/index/224154/tuesdays-stunning-santorum-sweep-6-takeaways

[Da Coyote]

Ah, it appears that more and more conservatives are coming to the realization that RINOmeny may be less of a vapid dork than the Cretin-in-Chief, but he is still a vapid dork.

[demkicker]

I agree with:

1. Santorum scored big bragging rights

2. Romney's coronation is now on hold (I hope for good)

4. Gingrich is toast (he cannot win - too much baggage & not a true conservative)

5. Republicans still aren't turning out to vote (Santorum hasn't gotten enough coverage, but will now and will be more appealing to conservatives)

6. Geography is trumping history (but I'm hoping the lesson of nominating McCain will finally dawn on voters that Romney will have the same result).

[bigbob]

Agree more or less...

Regarding #1, I wish someone would explain how these primary/caucus things work - how will delegates be named, then?

Regarding #4, I’m afraid this is probably true. Newt doesn’t seem to be doing what it would take to make a comeback, and he seems to be more dependent on big money donors. When Newt’s good, he’s great, but he hasn’t been great for a while and people have short memories.

Regarding #6, Santorum was pounding hard on Romney being “Obama-lite” and “Dead wrong on the issues”. I think that is an effective tactic.

I’d like to see Newt and Santorum working together in an alliance to make sure we end up with a conservative nominee.

[Steelfish]

I expect much agreement on #4 that now “Gingrich is toast.” Many blogs and news outlets are saying the same thing. Even Rush had said that Newt is weighted with loads of baggage. The money and momentum will now shift to Santorum If he beats Romney either in AZ or (especially) MI on February 28 this will be a seismic shift and there will be a tsunami of pressure for Gingrich to bow out of the Super Tuesday primaries.

[G Larry]

As a conservative who voted for Santorum in last night’s Colorado Caucus, let me share my thoughts, without 1st reading ABC’s.

1- Santorum IS the most conservative in the race.
2- He is sincere and unpolluted by big money and the Washington elite.
3- He’s focused on defeating Obama.
4- He’s not afraid to surround himself with smart people.
5- With these wins, folks will vote their conscience and worry less about “electability”.
(i’ve already heard, “oh, shoot!” “If I thought he had a chance, I’d have voted for him too!” (add 10 points to his 5 point Colorado win for this sentiment)

[bigbob]

I see Newt as a flawed yet heroic sort of character, who generates lots of energy and excitement when he’s hot and hitting on all cylinders (like when he tore John King a new one). But then there’s the whiny, grumpy Newt that isn’t very appealing, and there’s the reality of his “baggage”, such as it is.

For me, the two tend to balance out, after the debate is over and the excitement of the moment has faded and I’m reading the news and trying to decide why Newt isn’t doing better. Maybe last night showed that others who are evaluating Santorum see a more favorable balance than they are left with in Gingrich.

[kidd]

I have a problem with the text behind #5:

"Are Republicans energized? Not if turnout is an indication," say Peter Hamby and John Helton at CNN. GOP voters came out in much smaller numbers on Tuesday than they did four years ago. The numbers "are so low as to be laughable," says John Hinderaker at PowerLine. In Minnesota, for example, fewer than 50,000 people participated in the caucuses; in the 2008 general election, 1,275,409 Minnesotans voted for Republican John McCain.

A silly apples-to-oranges comparison. Comparing the general election, with all the other local/state/federal elections up for grabs, with a caucus that doesn't even pick the delegates in a primary election. The only thing that is laughable is John Hinderaker, Peter Hamby and John Helton at CNN trying to ascertain the anger of the country based on turnout at a non-binding Minnesota caucus

[Vigilanteman]

Seven reasons for Rick Santorum

1. Who has won the most states without the benefit of their own money, last election's organization or a billionaire casino sugar daddy?
   
2. Who is everybody's second choice when he isn't their first?
   
3. Who can get both the Romney people and the Gingrich people, who hate each other, to vote for him?
   
4. Who has the best record on immigration?
   
5. Who has the best plan for repealing ObamaCare? And is the only GOP candidate who didn't help write or approve legislation which helped spawn this fiasco?
   
6. Who has the best plan for expanding the American economy and strengthening American families?
   
7. Who is the closest thing we have to the "generic Republican" which polls show consistently beating Obama and is most likely to make the election about Obama's sorry record that about himself?

[Yaelle]

I do think Santorum is coming into his own and deserves bragging rights. I do think Mitt is hurt and Newt is toast.

[Marguerite]

I strongly doubt Santorum's stand and moral integrity

Rick Santorum In 2008: Romney Is A "True Conservative"

The hell he is, Mitt wasn't conservative then, as is not conservative now.

Santorum's endorsement of Romney in 2008 will hurt him badly in 2012.

Why did he prefer Romney then? This is the question.

Santorum is rightly attacking Romneycare in 2012, BUT supported Romney in 2008, when Mitt signed Romneycare in ... 2006! It is that more damning in 2012 than it was in 2008?

It makes no sense, for a genuine conservative candidate to have endorsed Romney. He could very well keep his mouth shut and not endorse anyone. But he did NOT.

[douginthearmy]

Bookmarking this thread for a good laugh. Mitt thanks you.

[Nateman]

Before the thinking goes that Gingrich is toast , the common wisdom after S.C. was that Santorum was toast. Perhaps Romney will not get enough delegates and this will go to convention. (Where Palin could get it! )

[demkicker]

That would be fine with me!