Posted on 09/23/2011 8:16:18 AM PDT by Slyscribe
After three debates, the consensus among conservative commentators is that GOP frontrunner Rick Perry is getting worse, not better. That's good news for Mitt Romney, who has been closing the gap with Perry in recent days. Intrade now sees the ex-Massachusetts governor as the most likely Republican nominee.
But it’s also good for Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator. He now may emerge from the long list of second-tier candidates.
Romney should be an easy target.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.investors.com ...
The GOP insiders are still hoping for a Christie type to enter as a backup for Mitt, but all the stop-Sarah conservatives they lured into the race or who otherwise got their are falling short. Santorum bizarrely becomes their next best hope.
Bottom line: Romney would probably be the better candidate, but, most likely, not the better president. All of that leaves me in the State of Quandary, wanting to see more debates, not planning at this time to give money to any of the candidates before we’ve selected a nominee, not planning to vote early, and definitely planning only to vote on election day.
You are right. Perry would be a much more conservative President than Romney based on their records. Perry sucks at debates though and while I am disappointed with his performance so far I am much more nervous about Romney. It is still far too early to count Perry out though. The media, and many on FR, seem determined to do that today based on the American Idol format of the debates.
If we took today as a snapshot to 2012 we will all be terribly disappointed with a candidate who has more warts than Perry and you know the media will shred Romney like IHOP hashbrowns in the general. Romney will not energize the Tea Party, evangelicals, or Southerners. The GOP can’t win without those three.
Perry needs to stop looking like Fred Thompson fast or the media is going to stick us with Romney! Where is the genuine Romney enthusiasm in the base? It’s not there.
The problem was that too many voters denied the reality that was right in front of their eyes.
How has he caused open borders as governor? He can't build a wall as governor. But, as president or anybody as president, would you support a wall being built? If so, do you support the use of eminent domain along the 1900 mile border in order to build said wall?
What eminent domain abuse has he been guilty of? I'm assuming you're referring to the TTC plan, which never took off. But, as mentioned above, if you have issues with eminent domain, how can you support a wall being built on private property?
You call out chrony capitalism. That's an insinuation of a quid pro quo. What evidence do you have that he made law only b/c of a donation or action?
I like Santorum.
I love Rick. If he gets any momentum, I’ll send him some money. I would love to have him over Perry. I thought he got a bum rap in supporting S.P.E.C.T.E.R. over Toomey in the primary. I think as a sitting senator you just don’t try to primary your colleague. It’s very bad form, and you’d never be able to work with him if he won, which the odds would say were likely.
No thanks. Santorum makes my skin crawl with his holier than though moral ideology.
The eminent domain point is well taken. I'd also like to know exactly where you put the fence through Texas. The border between Texas and mexico is the Rio Grande. Do we build a wall down the middle? Do we build it along the bank on our side and thereby cede the river to Mexico? Do we invade mexico and build it on their side? How exactly do we build that wall?
This is an important question Romney MUST answer to win. If we don’t ask Obama WILL.
“If you get your own planet (see Mormon beliefs) can you run the country from light years away?”
There are 12 liberal Mormons so Obama won’t worry about offending someone who will vote for him. If Romney really believes in his faith, it’s a serious question
He was correct on Afghan/Iraq - Win you go to war your stay until objectives are met and you have victory. Most all the other are on the pull the troops out because it's unpopular politically.
He was correct on Don't ask Don't Tell question
He was only one that correctly challenged Perry on Illegal Immigration
He is the only one correct on abortion rape cases
His goal of manufacturing jobs back to America is a good start
Sometimes he looks frustrated, I think it's more about debate format then issue, he wants to make point but the debate format won't allow it
Thank you for saying what I've been thinking since last night but couldn't find a way to say without sounding excessively belligerent!
OK...Perry wasn't good last night. we all agree. But let's point out that while everyone else was getting puff ball questions from that stupid panel Perry was getting rocked from all sides last night. Romney, Paul, Santorum and Bachmann were on him ALL night. He needs to toughen up and get much better prepared. I'll grant you that...but a President Perry would be more conservative than any post WWII Republican President except for Ronald Reagan. And don't forget Reagan had his own immigration problems!
Strange how the media tells me what I see and hear isn’t what I see and hear.The media is working hard to get who they want into office,and the ambush starts.
The three are all Democrat Lite GOP Establishment bots. They are utterly unfit to lead at this time.
We need real, tough leadership and all these three are offering is more of the same.
That was Paul, not Cain.
Agree. He seems really angry lately, which doesn't help his case.
I like Rick, he did a great job as my Senator.
But he is NOT rising to the top of this pack.
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