Posted on 02/01/2012 4:32:22 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Mitt Romney's plastic and philosophically vapid campaign secured an easy victory in Florida on Tuesday night. Sunshine state GOP voters swallowed his "electability" argument whole, according to the exit polls.
It appears that country club Republicans have succeeded again in duping the GOP electorate into crowning a "centrist" Republican. Never mind that "centrist" Republicans rarely win the center. They usually lose the center while sapping the spirit of the party's conservative base.
Out of Bob Dole's and John McCain's tattered Big Tent steps another "reformed" RINO, Mitt Romney, who will receive, should he win the nomination, a similar thumping from the Democrats.
But let's say that he is "electable," for the sake of argument. Who cares? The purpose of politics in a republic is not simply to win but to win on sound principles. A party that pursues victory by scrapping or sidelining its platform will have no truth left with which to govern once it does.
If "electability" is the goal, why don't the politically correct plutocrats of the GOP just call for a one-party state? That way they could win every time.
The "electability" argument is bankrupt on both philosophical and practical grounds. It destroys the party's soul and guarantees defeat.
Even though Romney paid for this Florida win on his debit card -- outspending Newt by millions -- he still couldn't nail down the rank-and-file vote. Seven out of ten self-described conservatives didn't vote for him. This foreshadows the boredom and disgust that will keep conservatives home in the fall.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
If "electability" is the goal, why don't the politically correct plutocrats of the GOP just call for a one-party state? That way they could win every time.Because giving the people an illusion of "choice" and "control" is necessary to keep the public from becoming restive and losing confidence in their rulers.
How hard could it be to DUPE a bunch of senior SS recipients living out their retirement? A bunch of uneducated losers.
I would also say you betcha that someone remained in play and played with the process and snuffed money that may have gone to provide an initial foundation for fresh faces who could be seen as real leadership. That was crummy “leadership”.
Nice to see you back here.
One of the big things I think we will see is the ‘sudden’ reversal of the RNC to sanction Florida for ‘violating’ the RNC rules and moving up their primary. Thereby giving Romney double the electors that Newt would have received if Newt had won the primary.
Take care.
-Geoff
Ohnonono
Not for one minute do I think you are kidding. Not for a nano-second.
IF Romney wins the nomination, AND he loses, heck even if he wins and governs like the liberal he is....the Republican party will never be the same.
There WILL rise a third party or the GOP will be dismantled and rebuilt.
I’ve no doubt at all about this. The base simply will not go on any other way.
Tawdry is good too...
MO on the spending spree for clothes...
SCATHING!!! And SO very true.
I’m not sure I understand you...not sure what you are talking about...could you “spell it out”?
Too bad Sarah, Rubio, Ryan and Rand all told us to go pound sand.
Reagan stayed in there and fought -for- Goldwater against the bluebloods. Then he took on the RINO’s directly in later elections until he elbowed his way in in 80.
These people don’t even bother and we end up with Puglosi-pal Newt. Bill Clinton without the charm.
“Conservatism has NOTHING to with Romney!”
Strongly agree; and, bears repeating!
The battle for Conservatism, the Tea Party and the soul of the country begins.
Rage against the machine!!!
February 4, 2012 Nevada (caucus)
February 411, 2012 Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012 Colorado (caucus),Minnesota (caucus),Missouri (primary)
Four of the next five states are caucuses, which might mean a better chance for Conservatives to stop the bleeding.
If nothing else, March 6 must be the firewall. That’s Super Tuesday. Keep Newt and/or Santorum viable until then. Make a stand and make sure Romney doesn’t have the delegates to win.
I don’t like what’s before us any more than my fellow FReepers, but a brokered convention...hell, a “raucus caucus” might be what we need to prevent the Republic from jumping the cliff.
What say you?
Yep, a lot of conservatives will simply NOT vote for Romney
There is a way to shake up the GOP elite, If everybody would write the RNC and tell them that a Romney nomination will get them a guaranteed 3rd party conservative Ind challenge.
Not a nutball fringe candidate run, but a rock-ribbed conservative run with a 100% social and fiscal conservative platform.
“A third party may have to emerge.”
A third party is free to emerge anytime.
I wish folks would stop making excuses for Newt. This result was entirely expected.
Newts complete and utter thrashing (that’s what it was, politically) in FL is a good thing for conservatism.
Now we have to utterly defeat Romney, and go to a brokered convention.
Neither Newt, nor Romney are conservative - though both claim to be.
Take it to the convention. If Conservatism is truly the force we’d all like it to be, then that’s the best course.
Newt was always a fake - he just wanted to be President and used whatever tools he could to position himself. Pretending to be an “anti-establishment conservative” was just his latest persona.
A big win's a big win. Seems a little early for massive sour grapes like this.
If electability is the standard, then the Republicans should just nominate Obama. With no meaningful choice on the ballot, how can anyone lose?
Actually, this flippant example is pretty close to what the actual situation will be if Romney is the nominee.
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