Posted on 02/26/2012 5:50:17 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The Republican presidential race faces a potential turning point on Tuesday in contests in Arizona and Michigan, where upstart Rick Santorum threatens to plunge an already unpredictable nominating battle into chaos.
Mitt Romney, the former front-runner and presumed nominee, and Santorum are in a close race in Michigan, the state where Romney was raised and his father was an auto executive and popular governor.
A Santorum win there would be a devastating blow to Romney, turning lingering doubts about his ability to win the allegiance of Republican primary voters into a deep panic in the party's senior ranks.
"If Santorum pulls off the upset in Michigan it turns the entire race on its head," said Republican Dan Schnur, an aide to Senator John McCain during his 2000 presidential bid. "There aren't going to be a lot of people who have much use for a front-runner who can't win his home state."
But Republicans worry about the general election viability of Santorum, a staunch conservative who has courted controversy with a burst of comments on social issues like birth control, pre-natal testing and women in the military.
Santorum's rise and Romney's weakness have sparked speculation about more contenders jumping into a Republican race that could last all the way to a brokered convention in August. The Michigan result could shift that speculation into overdrive.
"A Santorum win in Michigan takes all of the talk about a new candidate or a brokered convention and puts it on steroids," Republican strategist Todd Harris said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
“RNC and official beltway RINO-hood all hanging on their plum Administration jobs they have staked out from 2013 if Romney wins, ...”
Very, correct. Massuchusetts-Mitt is in there for one reason, and only one reason, consolidation of Arbeitsziehungslager- “Care” Federal power. Undercover that, “all parties are for it.”
We don’t already have chaos?
“We saw that in NJ with Bret Schundler’s nomination for governor - very little party support.”
YES WE DID SEE THAT!
This is a big, if overlooked, part of what led to the Tea Party. It’s a one way street with the Republican establishment.
The so-cons support the moderates when they are nominated. If a so-con gets nominated they get NO SUPPORT from the moderates.
This is what I was thinking today, I’m afraid if the choice comes down to Obama and Romney it won’t be much of a choice at all. Romney comes across as out-of-touch and condescending, not unlike Obama.
At least Santorum would provide a real contrast and say what you like against him he’s the ONLY one who’s got any ability to appeal to Joe and Jane Six-pack. He comes across as down-to-earth and hard working, you just can’t say that about Mitt or the big O. (I think Mitt probably does work hard, he just doesn’t seem like he does; Obama is a lazy bum and that’s the truth.)
I think Gingrich’s negatives are just too high to overcome.
Bob Dull, Juan McLame, two liberally moderate Bush’s and now they try to foist mitt on us?
Hey GOP, shove it.
Real conservative or go fish.
Rubio is the most often advanced name for Vice President. His parents did not become US citizens until after his birth.
Do I even know what makes a person a natural born citizen? Check my postings over the last four years.
Natural Born Citizen: A person born on US soil whose parents at the time of that birth where US citizens.
Santorum: His father immigrated from Italy and became a naturalized citizen some time after Rick’s birth.
Romney: His father was born in Mexico to non US citizens. He latter entered the US illegally. Was he naturalized or not, if so it was after Mitt’s birth.
The research on this, primarily related to Obama, has been discussed and debated by many on this forum over the last four years. Read and enjoy!
See post 107
Chaos sounds baaaaad.....
-—But Republicans worry about the general election viability of Santorum, a staunch conservative who has courted controversy with a burst of comments on social issues like birth control, pre-natal testing and women in the military.-——
I don’t see abortion and having daughters sent into combat as being “extreme.” Al-Reuters needs to get out more.
“No, I’ll not be zotted for observing Santorum as a loser. “
“President Santorum” - get used to the sound of it.
;-)
I think it was Santorum’s grandfather who immigrated from Italy.
If the GOP establishment doesn’t support Rick, when he wins, I predict a HUGE drop in their donations.
They had better come to their senses.
I’m not even from NJ, and I tried to help Bret Schundler by calling the WABC talk show about him. He is a well-known conservative hero. What a loss for NJ.
Thanks for the Ronald Reagan election map.
The GOP stablishment didn’t want him either.
So why should anyone pay attention to the establishment elites’ views.
I think we are already there. The RNC has been having a lot of trouble raising money over the past couple years, yet GOP candidates swept in '10 and were well funded. Most people have wised up and give directly to the candidate. Super Pacs also are going to be big this year and far more effective at fundraising and getting the job done.
I give straight to Rick. The upside is that Rick gave me a sweater vest for doing it. The RNC just floods my mailbox with junk mail when I used to kick them a few bucks. Screw them.
His father was born in mexico, and failed to ever declare US citizenship upon entry to the US.
George Romney’s candidacy was a bad joke on the American people.
“His father was born in mexico, and failed to ever declare US citizenship upon entry to the US.
George Romney’s candidacy was a bad joke on the American people.”
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Well, I’ve never declared US citizenship upon my numerous returns to CONUS from military duty overseas. That doesn’t make me an alien or non-citizen. I believe that there was a federal court decision/opinion that John McCain was a “natural born citizen” (and thus eligible for the Presidency) despite being born overseas because at the time of his birth both his parents were US citizens.
The following is an extract that may be relevant to this discussion.
“Romney’s great-grandfather, Miles Park Romney, fled the United States and crossed into Mexico in 1885 to escape religious persecution. He helped build the Mormon enclave of Colonia Juarez in Chihuahua.
Miles Park Romney never became a Mexican citizen, and neither did his son, Gaskell, or grandson, George. They were all denied Mexican citizenship because statutes on the books in Mexico denied that right to American settlers and their offspring.”
Here’s a link to the article (from that notoriously pro-Republican CNN) from which the above was extracted:
There DEFINITELY IS an issue with Obama not being a natural born citizen. I don’t think it is helpful in maintaining clarity on this issue by blowing a bunch of misleading “smoke” on this. It distracts from the true issues. And I agree that Rubio is NOT a natural born citizen. But he is also NOT a candidate for the Presidency.
There is a deadline for children born to US parents out of country to establish their US alegiance, and George Romney never made any effort to do so. (your straw argument not withstanding)
There is a deadline for children born to US parents out of country to establish their US alegiance, and George Romney never made any effort to do so. (your straw argument not withstanding)
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Well Dude, if that’s so, could you please cite the specific law(s) and/or regulation(s) that have such a requirement. If that is indeed true, I have to let a number of my friends who had kids born overseas (while in service) know so the kids can take the needed steps to “establish their US allegiance”.
I’m sure there are a number of FReepers who have such children with their allegiance to the United States “unestablished” - and/or who have friends in that same boat.
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