Posted on 02/17/2012 8:48:55 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The central narrative of the Republican nomination contest is easy to summarize: Any candidate who is perceived as the main opponent to Mitt Romney immediately ties or leads Mitt Romney.
Rick Santorum's surge tracks with recent precedent. His support is about the same as Rick Perry's at his peak. A little higher than Herman Cain's crest. A little lower than Newt Gingrich's pinnacle.
But Santorum is not only Romney's latest challenger, he is the most serious. Perry did not possess presidential-level skills. Cain lacked any apparent qualification for high office. Gingrich managed to systematically confirm every doubt about his style and stability.
Santorum, in contrast, has shown the ability to learn. While his initial debate performances were peevish and unappealing, he has grown more confident and likable over time. He has effectively prosecuted Romney's public record while avoiding anger or overreach. (He pointedly refused, for example, to attack Romney's business achievements and personal wealth.)
The former Pennsylvania senator possesses strengths that neatly fit some of Romney's weaknesses. Santorum combines a deeply held social conservatism with an authentic blue-collar appeal. Romney has trouble competing in either category. While Santorum is very conservative, he avoids being a conservative caricature. He was one of the Senate's main advocates of global health programs and a champion of faith-based anti-poverty efforts.
And Santorum has an additional advantage over Gingrich as the anti-Romney. The GOP establishment -- party types and elected Republicans -- viewed the prospect of Gingrich's nomination with undisguised horror. Having worked with him, they did everything they could to defeat him -- a revealing commentary. Santorum is hardly the party favorite, but establishment objections are many degrees less heated.
(Excerpt) Read more at yorkdispatch.com ...
I know it's Gerson but it's an interesting column.
Here's another OpEd you might "enjoy."
Quit acting stupid, Mitt …….. “Mitt Romney is running the wrong campaign. He is running against conservatives. He needs to run with them.”……
Romney thought he could buy this election and it would be over by now. He is an arrogant fool.
That is bullsh!t.
Newt lost his lead because Romney spent a bloody fortune in negative ads attacking him.
[ Perry did not possess presidential-level skills. Cain lacked any apparent qualification for high office. Gingrich managed to systematically confirm every doubt about his style and stability ]
Complete and utter BS!
“Romney thought he could buy this election and it would be over by now. He is an arrogant fool.”
True, but the GOPe, in their arrogance, thought that as well. Rove doesn’t realize the rank and file conservative is not willing to be played like a violin anymore.
Also, the GOP-e launched attacks against Newt for free through the cooperative media.
“The GOP establishment — party types and elected Republicans — viewed the prospect of Gingrich’s nomination with undisguised horror.”
That actually moved Newt up for me.
It would probably be more accurate to read Gerson's thought bubble as, "He [Romney] needs to pretend to run with them." That dog don't hunt. It hasn't hunted since Romney started.
Then there is this. Not sure how much to put into it but the notion that Mitt voters are no longer firm is something to watch.
Polls: Romney Well Behind Santorum In Michigan, Fading Fast In Arizona
Six Months ago I would tell you that Obama doesn't have a chance in Hell. Now I'm not so sure. If the conservative Intelligentsia keep trying to force Romney on us, we will rebel. We will not vote for him ever. We would rather have 4 more years of Congress vs Obama and try to cultivate a real conservative Nominee rather than Obama's liberal white RINO twin.
Yes!
(Just using your post, which I agree with, as a vehicle to rant, not directed directly at you.)
Like the gang of 10 or 6 or 14 or whatever size, minorities have enormous POWER. The “gang of 25%” (true conservatives) or whatever the size, have the real POWER. That is why the GOPe is so scared. We RULE! Let's not forget it.
Romney can't win without us. If we stick to our guns (yes a violent anti PC metaphor), Romney will fail to get the nomination.
I will not vote for Romney in any election. A vote for Romney is a vote for the establishment. I voted for Dole, I voted for McCain, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THEIR CANDIDATE AGAIN.
When you do the same thing over & over again expecting a different result, you are crazy. Are you “Romney is ok” voters crazy? Yes. WE WILL LOSE AGAIN! If we are going to lose anyway, better to at least stick it to the GOPers, proving our seriousness about not being lemmings any longer.
It is possible that my admiration for Newt is blind to what everyone else calls, an example of Newt “losing it”, or “unstable”, but I just don’t see it!
I am in an alternate universe I guess, as to why that impression of Newt is out there, but for the crystal clear placement by his enemies to create the false narrative. This is politics! Who would believe anything the ROVE crowd puts up against Newt????
Amazing to me that the rank and file, here and there, even entertain such an idea;a politicized version that falsely charactorizes an indisputed achiever of historic accomplishment and somehow, it works. Shameful. Now we’re stuck with a noisy rookie, dragging around an UN-extraordinary record, who was never a stand out, but for his moderation and RINO performance kit, who irritates people everywhere he goes.
Great. Just great. woo hoo.
I sent that quote about Conservatives to the Santorum campaign. Could be a great ad or debate response.
Rove doesn’t realize the rank and file conservative is not willing to be played like a violin anymore.
I got in a heated email debate with Rove about this very point. He ended up saying that he thinks that Freepers are a buncha whiners and moaners.(cuz we disagree with him).
Yes. The meme was Perry is a “gaffe-prone” oops, and now the meme is that Newt is “unstable.” It’s a way to lock Newt down, so that he can’t “fire it up.”
Santorum is a sellout politician w...e, like most of them:
He’s against Romney now? Big freaking deal. He was vociferously supporting the SAME Romney in 2008.
He’s a staunch pro-life conservative? Why did he support then the most pro-abortion ever, I mean Arlen Specter?
When Specter launched a long-shot bid for president in 1995, Santorum — his fellow Pennsylvanian — was one of his few high-profile endorsements.
For Specter, who later became a Democrat, his pro-abortion-rights position was a centerpiece of his campaign.
“There are clearly more Republicans who are pro-choice. Up until now, I am the only person willing to take on the fringe.”
Santorum was effectively returning a favor by endorsing Specter despite his aggressive pro-abortion-rights views. Specter had supported Santorum’s 1994 Senate campaign.
And once again the pro-life Santorum suported the most pro-abortion Specter in 2004, hoping for Arlen’s payback support in his own reelection bid in 2006.
WHY did Santorum break rang with his fellow Republicans in the Senate and voted for Sotomayor nomination at the Court of Appeals?
He may NOW cover himself with a mantle of saint pater familias of so many kids, preaching to the choir, he was and remains a political w...e.
“The GOP and it’s cheerleaders (read Ann Coulter and Co.) need to take note.”
But they won’t Usagi. Rove, Coulter, GOP elitists are all trying to patronize and marginalize us Conservatives as far out Right Wingers. Have they forgotten our effect on the 2010 elections?
As far as I’m concerned, taking a stance against Romney may not get their attention right now..cuz they are arrogant and stupid.
But it’ll make me feel better for sure to know that I am standing up for my core principles and not being led to a RINO trough by an increasingly out of touch party.
“The Rank and File GOP members and conservatives in general DO NOT WANT MITT ROMNEY.”
Strike the first seven words...
Of course, this is all a moot point if Romney and his attack dogs go down in defeat..and I truly believe they will be.
“REMEMBER BLOODY THURSDAY!” should be a sign that shows up at every single Romney campaign appearance.
What he and the establishment did to Newt that day was the beginning of their undoing. They waaaaaay over-played their hand in a massive over-reaction.
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