Polling Update: Newt leads GOP pack in SC, AZ, IA, PA

Real Clear Politics ^ | 11-22-2011 (3), 11-17-2011 (1) | Various

[TitansAFC]

SC: Gingrich 31%, Cain 17%, Romney 16%, Perry 6%

AZ: Gingrich 28%, Romney 23%, Cain 17%, Paul 8%

PA: Gingrich 32%, Cain 15%, Santorum 12%, Romney 12%

IA: Gingrich 32%, Romney 19%, Cain 13%, Paul 10%

[seekthetruth]

Newt certainly has a way of saying the right things when he wants to, and it sure makes so many of us conservatives look at Newt with smiles. But then, I think back and think back some more, and realize Newt can so easily say one thing and then when in power, do the opposite. It is those times that I realize I STILL can not trust Newt.

[moehoward]

No. I’m sure I’d enjoy his books on history thoroughly. It’s a blast watching him in these debates. Although he’s the only one actually debating.

My point was, he’s been in the game so long he’s been for both sides of most issues. Whatever is most politically expedient at the time.

His hitching his wagon to Krieble tips his (current) hand substantially on the issue of Illegals, IMHO.

[HotKat]

I was pretty sure that’s what it meant. I’m definitely on board for Newt.

[PieterCasparzen]

For one thing, he said he'd open up American energy resources. That right there is the single best thing we can do to undercut the muslims. Energy independence and supplying our oil to other nations.

Any of the Republican canidates would open up American energy resources if they were President.

Reducing how much oil we import from muslim nations would not change their objectives and it would not impede their ability to sell their oil to another nations, so it would have no positive effect on our national security situation. Stopping purchases from any particular nation for political reasons actually would make them sell to another nation which would probably be China, hence providing them with another source of supply and thereby lowering their energy costs and strengthening their position geo-politically and having a negative effect on America's national security situation.

The idea of not hamstringing U.S. energy production, coupled with a firm national security stance would, however, send a signal to muslim nations that American has returned to actually standing firm and pursuing it's own interests instead of being afraid of them and projecting a position of guilt and fear.

From the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

"How dependent are we on foreign oil?

The United States imported about 49% of the petroleum, which includes crude oil and refined petroleum products, that we consumed during 2010. About half of these imports came from the Western Hemisphere. Our dependence on foreign petroleum has declined since peaking in 2005."

Read more at http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/foreign_oil_dependence.cfm

If you read the above link you will find that America is not very dependent on oil imported from muslim nations at this point; that change has already been made. So any candidate touting this in their campaign a) knows this and b) is simply campaigning with statements that sound good to conservatives and independents who have not done their homework.

The real crux of the energy situation is simply removing the artifical roadblocks imposed by the Obama administration to opening up U.S. production of U.S. energy resources to a reasonable level, which would slow the rate of increase of energy costs somewhat and would create jobs in the energy sector. It will not be the only answer to our economic problems but it is also foolish to not pursue as the Obama administration situation is clearly demonstrating.

The national security situation is, at this point, mostly affected by the President and Congress choosing to maintain a military that has overwhelming capability with respect to all potential foes, and choosing to be geo-politically righteous, assertive and yet restraining from overuse of the military. The current administration has, of course, exclusively worked counter to American interests, which obviously was not done out of incompetence or unintentionally. Even the events that are presented by the administration as successes were gravely flawed in that they were either done in spite of the administration rather than with it's specific support or direction, or Constitutionally illegitimate or strategically in error or some combination of these three. Even a broken clock is accurate twice a day; it's simply not possible to foul up the works of American interests so consistently without there being intent.

Unfortunately, most of the problems facing America and the world will simply continue to worsen, if only at a slower pace (even though the snowballing collapse gets bigger every day thereby requiring even more bold action to stop), if the same old political cabal retains it's hold on the governmental apparatus and continues to exclude those who would be good stewards of government finances. Newt was a part of this cabal and he posits that he will not jump back into the mire in order to achieve legislative results if he were President.

Well-endowed foundations, big unions, big money interests, large publicly-held corporations, and the political establishment form the core of this cabal, which has been shifting the losses of it's political and economic ineffectiveness into debt owed by the taxpaying class, i.e., those who are large enough as an economic entity to owe taxes, but not large, sophisticated and unprincipled enough to circumvent them.

[Lady Lucky]

You seem to have taken some time, and given some thought, to your post, so I’ll just respectfully disagree completely. Have a wonderful day!

[lonevoice]

[garjog]

Gingrich is the best hope we have to achieve the most conservative policy in DC.

He has the legislative experience to get bills passed. The others might get in there, then find out nothing is changed.

Newt has a proven record of reforming welfare and supporting the Regan tax cuts and market economic policies.

In terms of immigration he doesn’t think it is reasonable or workable to toss out all illegals — some who have been here for 20 years. That makes sense. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/newt-gingrich-immigration-republican-presidential-debate-humane-article-1.981677

[garjog]

Gingrich is the best hope we have to achieve the most conservative policy in DC.

He has the legislative experience to get bills passed. The others might get in there, then find out nothing is changed.

Newt has a proven record of reforming welfare and supporting the Reagan tax cuts and market economic policies.

In terms of immigration he doesn’t think it is reasonable or workable to toss out all illegals — some who have been here for 20 years. That makes sense. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/newt-gingrich-immigration-republican-presidential-debate-humane-article-1.981677

[PieterCasparzen]

Gingrich is a career politician.

IMHO, America’s hope does not rest with career politicians.

Yes, they can “get bills passed”.

That is the problem, not the solution.

We need someone who can repeal.

NEW PROGRAMS are not needed.

Career politicians turn everything into a new program.

I’ve looked at Newt’s website.

Guess what.

New programs.

Can you name that tune ? I can, in two notes. I’ve been seeing the same thing for decades. A government that just keeps growing much faster than the population or GDP.

[Catsrus]

Then you will help to totally destroy this country. Congratulations!

[meatloaf]

That’s where we disagree. I’d rather wait for a true conservative rather than vote for a RINO like Gingrich or Romney that will continue the slide into socialism. That is waht is destroying this country.

I’m willing to bet on a Republican controlled House to hamstring Obama during a second term. If voters are tired of Obama after four years, they’ll be beyond tired of the Democrat after eight.

[prairiebreeze]

It is vital to remember that the conservative base is not going to elect a GOP candidate in 2012. The independents and right leaning democrats (may there still be some) will.

Candidates are appealing mostly, however not exclusively, the to base at this point in time...during the primary. Just wait until the general election rhetoric and obligatory running to the center starts.

[Catsrus]

We can no longer depend upon Congress either. Zero bypasses them with executive orders. Get your head out of your butt on this.