[nathanbedford]

Sarah Palin has effectively just taken herself out of the running. Governor Sanford did that last week. The field now narrows to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Barring the emergence of some dark horse, it now looks like it's Romney's to lose. I think he will manage to lose it if he cannot find it within himself to express the real fear growing in the land that Obama is wrecking the country

Newt Gingrich is demonstrating daily on television that he gets it and that he can deliver the message. Romney sounds like a politician from a cycle ago which might as well be a century ago. Newt gets it but it is not clear that Romney does. Romney must understand that every rule of the game has changed because of Obama. He must act as though he understands that business as usual is fatal. He must understand that Obama must be morally destroyed if the republic is to be saved.

Newt can deliver the message but the messenger carries a lot of baggage. Romney's main deficiency, the stigma of rinoism, can only be overcome by becoming the figure who morally destroys Obama. He must show that he has the courage and the fire to take Obama on. He must convince us that he understands that it is Obama or us. He must convince us that we are at a flashpoint of history and the whole country is literally at stake.

[MSF BU]

I guess Romney’s four husky sons will be available to campaign with him, since none of them will be deployed anywhere (just like Dad...and Grandpa in their time).

[Darren McCarty]

Romney's main deficiency, the stigma of rinoism, can only be overcome by becoming the figure who morally destroys Obama.

Romney's problem isn't his "rinoism." His problem is worse. He's a slickster chameleon. He couldn't break 50% in his birthstate's primary, which was one of his few wins, and that was when McCain blew it with his "jobs aren't coming back" talk.

[Jeff Head]

I dsiagree completely. She stated her intentions to support other candidates and the national picture in her statement.

Time will tell...but I believe she is in and she has my support.

[Domari Nolo]

Sorry, but no white male is going to beat O in 2012.Gingrich especially needs to stay away-O would destroy him.

[MrEdd]

Sarah Palin has effectively just taken herself out of the running.

not in any way, shape or form.

Like Ross Perot in 1990, she has enough pull to run with or without the republican party. Their choice I suppose. Unlike Perot, she is a conservative ideologue. She wont be jumping in and out of the race as a spoiler.

If the Republicans want to try with one of the liberal Troika again in the face of her candidacy, fine. But the votes she siphons off are not votes they were somehow entitled too, and the whining they will do is going to be reflected strait back at them just as is being done now for pushing McStain, Romney, and Rooty.

Look at her history against heavy opposition (much of it from within the Republican party) in Alaska. This is a candidate that thrives on establishment opposition. She has chosen to give up state office to concentrate on the presidency now.

Good luck with trying to make her go away with words.

[calex59]

BS, the base will not vote for either of these RINO a**hats.

[Ol' Sparky]

The field now narrows to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich

If that is the case, given Romney's abhorrent liberal record and history of flip-flopping, Newt is the man.

Romney is a disaster for the GOP as he does and always will divide the base. And, sane conservatives don't trust Willard.

But, there will be other candidates. Haley Barbour as well as Daniels being two.

[scotash]

This is an absolutely amazing thought that You’re the first person I’ve seen to really put this into stark terms that needs to be said.

My hunch is that Romney get’s it, but he’s trying to stay palatable for the largest number of people, i.e. to get elected. Newt can be more radical in his declarations because he isn’t terribly convinced he’d be able to win. Romney is.