Posted on 09/13/2011 9:48:06 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Do you remember the old reruns of Gilligan’s Island? The really old ones were in black and white and that famous theme song ended without mentioning the Professor and Mary Anne. The song originally ended, “and the rest are here on Gilligan’s Isle.”
That’s how I’m starting to feel about the GOP presidential field. “and the rest…” are really mucking it up for the real contenders. Let’s face it, this race should be down to no more than four people at this point: Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and that open slot for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
The rest need to pack it up and go home already. There were only seven castaways, and that was too many to mention. There are still eight of these candidates.
Last night’s debate held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa provided some fireworks and proved that Wolf Blitzer of CNN is an able and honest journalist, unlike Brian “Obama 2012” Williams of NBC who moderated last week’s debate. Kudos to Blitzer for a job well done and for realizing that the debate is about the candidates, not him.
The fireworks began when Perry and Romney got into it over Social Security. Perry won that one. He stuck to his convictions and didn’t faint in the face of criticism on an issue that has sent many a politician, like Romney, running for cover.
Then more fireworks came as Bachmann and Perry got into it over the human papilloma virus vaccine and the fact that Perry had ordered Texas school girls to get the vaccination as governor of Texas.
Perry apologized and admitted he was wrong – twice – in mandating the vaccination as an executive order. I don’t know about you, but I find that refreshing. I can’t remember the last time the words “I was wrong” or anything like them were uttered by any politician anywhere. Barack Obama would have a stroke just trying to get his lips to form the words. If you’re looking for perfect folks, don’t look at politicians or anyone else on this planet.
Romney was Romney. Romney was just there. He’s been there for four years now. Just always there. He does nothing. He offers nothing new. He’ll flip his position on a dime. He is a super nothing who is just simply there waiting to be anointed as in the days of old by the GOP elite just because it’s his turn.
This vaunted GOP tradition of picking someone to be their presidential candidate just because they’ve hung around the longest (see Bob Dole & John McCain as examples) may come to a crashing halt this year thanks to the Tea Party.
Michele Bachmann lost me last night. I’ve had support and sympathy for the Minnesota Congresswoman for some time now and had hoped she would do well in the race. I did not, however, really expect that she would pull off a nomination. In fact, I suspected that she would implode.
I felt an imminent implosion due to Bachmann’s tendency to say things that are just downright wrong and make her look stupid. Like her August call to wish Elvis Presley a Happy Birthday on the anniversary of his death, and like her gaffe earlier when she moved Concorde and Lexington to a completely different state.
I did not expect her to implode because she would be over the top vicious and accusative of another GOP candidate. Bachmann won the debate about the HPV virus. She had Perry whipped. Rather than take her victory lap and look strong for having won, she went one step further and made an accusation of Perry.
She accused Perry of issuing the executive order because the drug company that produced the vaccine, Merck, and Perry’s former Chief of Staff had a relationship, and because Merck had made a donation to Perry’s campaign. It was a startling accusation.
Had Bachmann let it go there, she might have been okay. However, right after the debate Bachmann appeared on Fox News’ “On The Record” with Greta Van Susteren and was asked if she really believed that Perry had issued the executive order because of “crony capitalism,” and the fact that he had received a $5,000 donation out of the $30 million plus Perry raised.
Bachmann replied that she could not know Rick Perry’s heart and would not speculate.
Speculate?
Rep. Bachmann, you blew right past speculate and straight to out and out accusation mixed with condemnation on the stage during a nationally televised debate. You left speculate in the dust. Okay, people make mistakes. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, Bachmann won’t let us give her the benefit of the doubt.
Last night Bachmann sent out an email to supporters that read in part:
Tonight, I also questioned why Governor Perry made this executive order. When you look at the facts, the question becomes, is this about life or is this about millions and potentially billions for the drug company?
We cannot forget that in the midst of the executive order, a big drug company made millions of dollars because of this mandate. This drug company's PAC made thousands of dollars in political donations to Governor Perry, and his own former Chief of Staff was working as the lobbyist for this drug company when he issued the mandate. This is flat out wrong.
That’s way more than speculation and it sounds like Michele Bachmann has decided that she can know Rick Perry’s heart. I hope your past is clean, Rep. Bachmann, because you can bet Perry’s people are dissecting every deal you’ve ever been involved with in Congress right about now.
It is already well known that Bachmann, while publicly damning the Obama stimulus and voting against it, then wrote several letters asking for a cut of the money for her district. I certainly hope none of that money went to anyone who ever gave you a campaign donation Ms. Bachmann.
Bachmann smelled blood in the water last night because she had the front runner on the ropes and she went over the top in her accusations and her attack, and is continuing to do so today demonstrating that despite all her objections to the contrary, Ms. Bachmann is just about politics as usual.
And the rest….
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman does a great Mr. Spock impression, but I’m really tired of him ballyhooing his accomplishments in Utah, a state which has about as many people as does the City of Houston. His accomplishments on that kind of a scale are the equivalent of a big city Mayor’s rather than a real governor. I don’t care that you ride motorcycles and you’ve spent too much time working for Barack Obama. Enough already.
Newt Gingrich is still the smartest guy in the room, darn near any room, but hang it up Newt. No one is ever, ever, ever going to elect you to anything ever again.
Former Senator Rick Santorum, did anyone know that his parents were Italian immigrants? Anyone? Anyone?
Herman Cain is a hoot, but please go home already. Order a pizza.
Ron Paul. Well, Ron Paul went off into loony land again last night agreeing with Osama Bin Laden, and Rev. Jeremiah Wright that the U.S. was responsible for the attacks of 9/11. Rep. Paul please “sell crazy someplace else we’re all stocked up here.”
After last night, I suspect the numbers will tighten at the top with Perry and Romney coming closer together. I don’t believe Romney either hurt or helped himself. Perry did hurt himself. Bachmann did, too. If that happens and Perry and Romney’s numbers get closer together, don’t be surprised to see Sarah Palin jump into this.
Then all bets are off and the debates get really interesting. The rest of you, just go home already.
Newt as the professor.
—Romney was Romney. Romney was just there. He’s been there for four years now. Just always there. He does nothing. He offers nothing new. He’ll flip his position on a dime. He is a super nothing who is just simply there waiting to be anointed as in the days of old by the GOP elite just because it’s his turn. —
Wow. That guy summed up exactly how I feel about Romney, and did it in a very short paragraph.
palin.
Instead of constantly trashing Bachmann, you really need to look at her as insurance against the possibility that Palin doesn’t run. (yes I know, even suggesting it is blaspheme)
Because if she doesn’t, we’ll get saddled with Mitt Perry and be exactly where we are today with no one to blame but yourselves.
I don’t sit here and trash Palin. Instead I support all the conservatives. Bachmann isn’t the enemy of anyone but the same old crap.
Maybe that has something to do with the steady cancerous growth of the Federal govt. over the years? If you elect someone whose entire career involves being in govt. and pandering to special interests to keep himself in power, then you have only yourself to blame for the consequences.
Excellent summation, 2nd. Only thing I would change is that this has come down to a two man race: Perry vs Romney.
And I loved what you said about the GOP Elitist crowd not being able to appoint their favorite successor anymore because of the influence of the TEA PARTY!! YAY!
Mittens and Mrs. Mittens: you’d best wait before ordering the new drapes for the Lincoln bedroom.
Congresswoman Bachmann has about the same chance at garnering the nomination as I do. She’s trailing RON PAUL for goodness sakes! We don’t put House members in the White House, as I said in my first post.
The world of politics as we know it has dramatically changed forever. The failed “conventional wisdom” of the past is in a state of collapse.
The last one elected wasn’t exactly a “state’s rights” advocate, as I recall.
Well I guess she wont be the VP now.
>> Instead of constantly trashing Bachmann, you really need to look at her as insurance against the possibility that Palin doesn’t run.
Oh please. Hang it up. Whatever her ideological bona fides, in practice Bachmann is as loony as RuPaul. In just the past week she’s ponied up ample evidence; just watch over the next couple weeks for her to prove it beyond shadow of doubt.
Frankly, after what I’ve seen I don’t want her finger on the button.
Gee, when did Paline declare she was running.
OK. I guess you are happy with business as usual. We will have Slick Rick Perry, and he will lead us down the same disastrous path as the last phony pseudo-conservative from Texas.
Primary candidacies are momentum based. Bachmann is finished. Palin wins the Most Popular Non-candidate prize. Fred would have won this prize last time, but he made the mistake of actually getting into the race. Palin is smarter than Fred, will play a very important part in any Republican administration, and may be president someday.
It’s Rerry or Romney.
The odds favor Perry. Both men have been vetted numerous times so scandals are unlikely. It’s Perry’s to lose. Romney’s candidacy rests on looking like a Student Body President, a George Bush Senior with less experience. Perry has sizzle and must only be careful not to say something very stupid. He’s being coached on that now.
Bachmann’s not a contender.
It’s Romney, Perry or Palin.
See my tagline...
>> Most Popular Non-candidate prize. Fred would have won this prize last time, but he made the mistake of actually getting into the race.
ROFL
Bachmann is out there sticking her foot in her mouth by saying the vaccine caused mental retardation just because she doesn’t know when to shut up. She was conceded to have “won” the Gardisol encounter and then blew it all up later on Greta. That’s why the woman has imploded as a candidate.
Unlike you I am just fine with Perry as my candidate. I’m not naive, I know his position on immigration and I’m letting him take a beating for it because he deserves one n that issue. But at least he’s taking a beating for just having an unpopular position with conservatives. Michelle is taking a beating for lying and having foot in mouth disease and perhaps just perhaps being exposed as blatantly opportunisitic. No, I will not let her off the hook for Social security. She was prepared to lie and demogague from the LEFT until Rush cut her off at the knees.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.