[true believer forever]

Everybody here is now all of a sudden so outraged at Rick Santorum (who simply articulated what many folks have been saying here on FR for months about Romney being no better than Obama), yet I’m FAR more pissed off over the comments by Romney’s spokesman. He outright admitted what conservatives have suspected all along... that Mitt is only trying to sound conservative right now just to do whatever he needs to do to wrap up the Republican nomination and then the GOP establishment will “reset” him during the general election and have him campaign as a moderate.

I used to think there was a major difference between the Republican and Democrat parties.

I no longer think so.

And it makes me absolutely furious.

So, how do you explain DeMint almost endorsing him? Do the jaws of the establishment reach that far? I mean, I used to believe DeMint was one of the good guys, and after 1 meeting with Willard, he's "excited" at the prospect of him being the nominee, and thinks Santorum and Newt should drop out... is the GOP establishment that powerful? Really, is it?

that's why the prospect of Newt taking this to the convention so enlivens so many, a chance to call out the GOP on their own turf... and mess up their choreographed coronation, even if it comes to nothing... It will be a first.

[DestroyLiberalism]

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So, how do you explain DeMint almost endorsing him? Do the jaws of the establishment reach that far? I mean, I used to believe DeMint was one of the good guys, and after 1 meeting with Willard, he’s “excited” at the prospect of him being the nominee, and thinks Santorum and Newt should drop out... is the GOP establishment that powerful? Really, is it?

that’s why the prospect of Newt taking this to the convention so enlivens so many, a chance to call out the GOP on their own turf... and mess up their choreographed coronation, even if it comes to nothing... It will be a first.
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According to Heritage Foundation’s Action Scorecard, Jim DeMint receives a 99% rating for his record of conservative legislation, which is the highest score of anyone in the Senate. So I still consider him to be one of the good guys.

I think what’s happening is the GOP establishment leaders took DeMint aside and begged him “for the sake of party solidarity” to help rally conservatives behind Romney by claiming that: 1) the GOP has already poured a tremendous amount of financial resources and legwork into grooming Romney for the presidency; 2) Many high-ranking party officials have put their collective reputations on the line by publicly endorsing him; and 3) Romney is the clear frontrunner who has built up a nearly insurmountable delegate lead and none of the other candidates can overcome. It’s entirely possible DeMint shares their worry about how this prolonged primary season may be damaging the candidates and fracturing the party. (I don’t prescribe to this mindset, by the way.) And, who knows, maybe DeMint genuinely DOES think highly of Romney.

All I can say is, if Romney does get the nomination and then goes on to lose to Obama, I truly think the Republican party as we know it will be finished because its conservative base will be IRATE AS HELL and will either: 1) turn its focus on pushing for a complete overthrow of the party establishment, or 2) abandon and form a new party altogether. (I would personally support the first option if, God forbid, it ever comes down to this.)