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Don't Pick Rick
NRO ^ | 2/24/2012 | Mona Charen

Posted on 02/25/2012 1:20:13 PM PST by WPaCon

Wish I had a nickel for every conservative who confidently predicted that the Arizona debate would, of course, feature obnoxious questions about birth control and the devil aimed at Rick Santorum. As it turned out, CNN’s John King did not ask “gotcha” questions and, for the most part, conducted a fair and informative debate.

The debate moderated by King, along with other events of the past week, has resolved a question that has been swirling since the Missouri, Colorado, and Minnesota primaries: Why not Santorum?

There is much to like and admire about Rick Santorum. He did fine work enacting welfare reform in the 1990s. He was an eloquent and thoughtful advocate for the unborn. He has kept a weather eye on Iran for many years. He’s a dedicated family man. He was the first candidate to raise the issue of family structure in the context of discussions of poverty. And he had a solid, conservative voting record in Congress (with some exceptions — there are always exceptions).

But Santorum would make a poor Republican nominee.

Because he has phrased his socially conservative views in vivid terms, he is precisely the sort of candidate who will evoke a Pavlovian response from the press. Just as they were driven mad by Sarah Palin, they will be outraged by Rick Santorum. The campaign will be cluttered by the continual discovery of “controversial” Santorum quotes from the past three decades, and precious time will be lost as he explains, justifies, or withdraws his comments on women in the workforce, contraception, gay unions, Obama’s “theology” (by which he did not mean to question the president’s faith, something he’ll have to explain over and over), and so forth.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; monacharen; santorum2012
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To: WPaCon
Pick Rick where Rick is strong, pick Newt where Newt is strong.

Once Willard goes back to Michigan (or Massachusetts), Rick & Newt can slug it out for the nomination.

41 posted on 02/25/2012 2:05:38 PM PST by skeeter
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To: Signalman

Honestly, I don’t see any of our candidates taking out Obama.

It’s a shame we can’t field a candidate that’s been in office since early 2007. And, yeah, I’m not counting Paul.

Where are the current Republican governors or senators? Too bad Perry’s campaign fizzled.


42 posted on 02/25/2012 2:09:54 PM PST by WPaCon
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To: WPaCon

Holy mackerel. Is everyone at NRO jumping on Rick at the same time? That’s two posted here this afternoon.

I don’t bother to visit NRO any more. It’s really gotten pretty worthless. Why bother to read the rest of the article when you know exactly what they’re going to say, and the whole thing is nothing but axe grinding for some RINO insider like Romney.


43 posted on 02/25/2012 2:13:37 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: WPaCon
Because he has phrased his socially conservative views in vivid terms, he is precisely the sort of candidate who will evoke a Pavlovian response from the press.

News flash to Romney pimps - the press will do just that to anyone who wins the GOP nomination.

44 posted on 02/25/2012 2:15:12 PM PST by dirtboy
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To: CainConservative

“...a Pavlovian response from the press.” At least Mona is correct in her comparison of the MSM to drooling dogs.


45 posted on 02/25/2012 2:16:07 PM PST by abclily
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To: skeeter

It seems so simple, doesn’t it?


46 posted on 02/25/2012 2:17:09 PM PST by FourPeas ("Maladjusted and wigging out is no way to go through life, son." -hg)
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To: WPaCon

Please pick Rick Santorum. He is the only viable choice.


47 posted on 02/25/2012 2:22:28 PM PST by maxwellsmart_agent
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To: WPaCon

If we allowed the press to decide the best presidential candidate we might as well put Obama on the ticket for both parties and be done with it.


48 posted on 02/25/2012 2:25:58 PM PST by eclecticEel (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 7/4/1776 - 3/21/2010)
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To: Gator113
After Saint Ricky has lost, he will, and moved on with his life, he could make a killing as a real televangelist.

Wait, you mean you don't want to nominate a candidate who thinks it is his job to lecture us all about the evils of contraception as President?

Because, you know, it is such an election winner of a message and all:

“One of the things that I will talk about that no president has talked about before is, I think, the dangers of contraception in this country.”

Oh Rick droned on and informs us all that contraception is "not okay".

Now this is not just something he said in a church somewhere. This IS Rick Santorum. He believes it is his role as a President to give the country a good lecture on contraception. And people are taking this guy seriously? Come on, there was a reason no one paid attention to him just a few months ago - he isn't electable in a general election. The only reason he is still around at all is because he was such an afterthought that no one bothered attacking him till recently.

Newt is really our only serious alternative to Romney.

49 posted on 02/25/2012 2:31:56 PM PST by Longbow1969
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To: WPaCon

“Honestly, I don’t see any of our candidates taking out Obama.

It’s a shame we can’t field a candidate that’s been in office since early 2007. And, yeah, I’m not counting Paul.

Where are the current Republican governors or senators? Too bad Perry’s campaign fizzled.”

I hope you are not correct but if the election is remotely close in favor of the Republican there will be Democrat court challenges up to and including the Supreme Court.


50 posted on 02/25/2012 2:34:33 PM PST by KeyLargo
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To: WPaCon

“Because he has phrased his socially conservative views in vivid terms, he is precisely the sort of candidate who will evoke a Pavlovian response from the press. Just as they were driven mad by Sarah Palin, they will be outraged by Rick Santorum.”

Assuming this is true, should that bother us?

Are we being led to believe that they will be more fair or decent to someone else?


51 posted on 02/25/2012 2:35:29 PM PST by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: beandog

“but because of the childish and nasty behavior of a lot of Newt supporters, I’m seriously rethinking my support.”

I’ve seen childish and nasty in support of every candidate, repeatedly. Don’t let that affect your decision. There is no one running for President who does not have ugly supporters.


52 posted on 02/25/2012 2:38:21 PM PST by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: WPaCon

>>>Charen sounds like a few certain freepers.

She’s an inside the beltway, elitist, Republican establishment shill.


53 posted on 02/25/2012 2:39:01 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (Willard Romney, purveyor of the world's finest bullmitt. | FR Class of 1998 |)
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To: WPaCon
Charen sounds like a few certain freepers.

Wonder what her Freep name is.

54 posted on 02/25/2012 2:39:11 PM PST by COBOL2Java (Mitt Romney is SEVERELY conservative - and I'm SEVERELY against giving him my vote!)
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To: throwback

Gingrich, by making his two points to John King, one of which was Obama’s support of infanticide, saved Rick’s bacon on social issues in that debate. The positive response Newt got from that and the audience’s reaction to the original question ,turned the tide. But for that, I’m not sure if Rick could have avoided an even worse disaster in his performance.

Just heard Newt’s speech to the GOP Convention in CA. He eviscerated Obama on Obama’s speech in Florida yesterday and on the Energy issue in general.

He is asking everyone who supports him to twitter or email someone and let them know about his pledge for $ 2.50 per gal. gasoline, and to make a $2.50 donation at newt.org to support him as he fights on. He also asked supporters to encourage everyone to watch his 30 minute video on the step by step process of getting Energy independence.


55 posted on 02/25/2012 2:47:34 PM PST by conservativejoy
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To: WPaCon

Don't pick, Rick!

56 posted on 02/25/2012 2:48:32 PM PST by gitmo (Hatred of those who think differently is the left's unifying principle.-Ralph Peters NY Post)
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To: WPaCon

The more I hear Newt Gingrich on Energy, the more convinced I am that he Can defeat Obama. This issue resonates with voters. Folks are facced with the reality of it every time they fill up their gas tanks. The impact of high gas prices increase the costs of food and every consumer item we use. Hard to ignore.

Newt has a remarkable plan, and if you haven’t listened to his step by step Plan for Energy independence and $2.50 per gal gasoline, I encourage you to take 30 minutes and check it out at Newt.org and decide for yourself.


57 posted on 02/25/2012 2:54:52 PM PST by conservativejoy
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To: HiTech RedNeck
It takes two to dance that tango of course: the devil to offer evil and mankind to accept the evil.

Actually, the devil can cause plenty of evil and affliction without getting anyone's permission. He's not like a vampire that can't enter a house without the occupant's permission.
58 posted on 02/25/2012 3:11:26 PM PST by aruanan
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To: WPaCon

So, don’t choose Santorum because he sounds like Sarah Palin. Yea, that makes sense. So is Mona for Mitt?


59 posted on 02/25/2012 3:11:33 PM PST by OrangeHoof (Obama: The Dr. Kevorkian of the American economy.)
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To: WPaCon

I’m sure Wm. F. Buckley, Jr. is shaking his head over the timid piece of crap National Review has become.


60 posted on 02/25/2012 3:13:32 PM PST by aruanan
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