Posted on 01/22/2012 7:53:20 PM PST by TBBT
COLUMBIA, SC -- They won't say it publicly -- they don't want to appear churlish or disrespectful on a night they took a serious beating -- but it's no exaggeration to say that even after losing the South Carolina primary to Newt Gingrich, members of Mitt Romney's circle find it absurd -- almost crazy -- that the former House speaker has even a ghost of a chance of becoming the Republican Party's presidential nominee.
In their view, Gingrich has barely run a campaign. As they see it, Team Gingrich doesn't have the money, professionalism, brains, or organization of the Romney campaign. They see the former Speaker as somewhat unstable and vulnerable to continued attack on issues of ethics and morals. And most of all, they see Gingrich as a candidate who owes his very existence to the never-ending series of Republican debates -- and not much more.
(Excerpt) Read more at campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com ...
However, Romney's people may have been correct in diagnosing Newt's strength as flowing almost solely from the debates. After Florida there will be a long period without debates; thus Newt's main strength will be undercut. Newt is going to need lots of money.
On the other side even negative press with lots of explanations as to "Why Newt should not have happened," will keep Newt before the public. The wisest thing Romney's people could do for him is to shut up and not mention South Carolina.
A recent article I read said that almost 50% of returned LDS missionaries leave the LDS church after their mission.
I would not be surprised. After 2 years, it either turns you into ‘Norman Mormon’ or it makes you no longer believe it.
Here is one guy who became a Born Again Christian on his LDS mission and then got sent home from his LDS mission with only 3 weeks to go because he bore his testimony and didn’t mention Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon or the LDS church - just Jesus Christ and salvation by grace. For that, he was punished.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlSxIxp7KPo
I’ve been saying generally the same thing to people since this Bain issue took hold. I saw it as a brilliant strategy, and it amazed me that so many intelligent people (even Mark Steyn, for God’s sake) bristled at Newt and Perry’s going after Romney as if they were coming from the Left, and using their arguments. OF COURSE THEY WERE! They have effectively pre-empted the attacks from the Left against Romney, stolen their thunder, as it were, because, don’t forget, the Left WANTED Romney as the R candidate. They have struggled mightily to get rid of everyone EXCEPT Romney, in order to clear the path TO Romney. As they are now learning, there are some bumps along that road.
What your analysis implies, brilliantly, is also that their is one big Political Establishment, all playing the political game, and the Republicans want to stay in business,maintaining their position in the Establishment, as they usually have, BY LOSING.
It's easy to understand, really. The people who are amazed are establishment Republicans. They aren't in this for ideology. This is their JOB (actually, their career). So, you see, they are all about whatever slick packaging that will get them the most votes (hence the "moderates uber alles" strategy of the average campaign adviser).
Romney has no central ideas, other than that he should be (no, dammit, deserves to be!) President. So he calls in all of his advisers and they conduct focus groups and carefully stage rallies and test messages, until they come out with a carefully scripted image they think will win. Because that's all its about.
Rush himself said that the reason for all of the Romney support amongst the establishment is they think that Romney will have enough coattails to keep them in power (though not to defeat Obama). And that's what this is about. The party hacks who make their living off of the taxpayers' (and contributors') dime are seeking their own reelection first... and they see Romney as carefully scripted enough that he won't scare off voters. He's safe (in a Bob-Dolian way).
Newt has ideas! That's why he is resonating with the average Republican. He doesn't need careful scripting (which has the Mittiots so puzzled), because the Republican base is connecting with his IDEAS, and his articulation of them. That's what scares the establishment. Romney would jettison any idea or "principle" in a heartbeat if it proved unpopular. But someone with ideas might not, and jeopardize all of the phoney-baloney jobs that these political leeches are so desperate to maintain. Newt is worse than Obama (to them), because he is dangerous to their power. He might say something to offend the precious moderates, and then they might get put out of a job.
What's so funny is that what makes Romney so unelectable is exactly why the establishment labels him as "electable"...
“Insider Advantage
Romney 26, Gingrich 34, Santorum 11, Paul 13, Perry
Gingrich +8”
Wow, fellow Caniac, absolutely AMAZING. Romney’s looking to again get that 25-30% level of support. All Newt has to do is continue to dominate the remainder of the field, as he did in SC, and it’s game over in Florida...and maybe all the way to November.
Put your money where your mouth is. I'll bet you a additional $20 donation to FR that you are wrong. You game?
Conservatives and independents hate Romney but “people” like liberals and lefty morons from the MSM love him as the liberal election playbook for 2012 has Mitt written inside it..not Newt.
Oh it’s getting better.... Moments ago:
Florida Republican Presidential Primary
Insider Advantage
Romney 26, Gingrich 34, Santorum 11, Paul 13, Perry
Gingrich +8
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/
I remember Don Rumsfeld talking about the swing of the pendulum. It feels good to see it swing our way again!!!! There would be nothing better to me than a Rummy endorsement for Newt. Those two are cut from the same cloth.
“Newt has advisors. He loses them to Perry.
Perry is at 35%. These new advisors he hires help him to 6% immediately.
Bachmann, with highly paid Rollins, crashes and burns.
Cain, with no advisors, surges.
Then Newt, without his advisors, surges.
Hmm.
Maybe it’s a good thing not to have these advisors.
priceless observation :)
Nice post (even though I had to stand back at the other side of my living room to read it, lol).
“I think Mitt is losing because he’s not engaging anyone. “His support is a mile wide and an inch deep. He had a number of opportunities to really grab this thing the past ten days and almost seemed self sabotage himself.”
I tend to agree. Mitt doesn’t thrill anyone, and hasn’t been effective in trying to deepen his support among primary voters. Certainly his past stances are a big part of the problem, but I think it goes beyond that. He founders badly when pushed off script, and just doesn’t inspire people when he speaks (that one admittedly solid victory speech excepted). I think even if he were a lifelong conservative, he would be having trouble in the primary polls right now.
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Haha! Marked for posterity.
matched!
Just remind me.
Gingrich always saw Obama has his primary opponent. Romney has always seen his Repub rivals as his primary opponent.
And therein lies the lesson.
If you are right, the Establishment RINO Republicans will ensure that this is the actual moment America died.
“Where liberty dwells, there is my country." –Benjamin Franklin
Islam Delenda Est!
They know. It only steels them to try for a chance to do some serious payback...
The difference between Romney and Obama...is merely who will get to run the leviathan....and consequently organizational prowess appears a qualification for the job
Maybe it’s a good thing not to have these advisers.
I saw a video segment where Newt said that ‘consultants’ were best at draining the treasury of a campaign instead of helping to get the candidate elected.
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