Republicans in Retreat!

[we vs us]

We'll lose a couple -- Santorum, Bachmann, maybe Perry.  Newt might even take a dive.  His fundraising and organization were always flimsy, so even though he has some strong support in some quarters it may not be enough to buttress his flaws.  

The ones who've staked their hopes on NH -- Huntsman, primarily -- won't be touched by the goings on in IA.  

[Gaspar]

We'll lose a couple -- Santorum, Bachmann, maybe Perry.  Newt might even take a dive.  His fundraising and organization were always flimsy, so even though he has some strong support in some quarters it may not be enough to buttress his flaws.  

The ones who've staked their hopes on NH -- Huntsman, primarily -- won't be touched by the goings on in IA.  

I think Newt will be out soon.  He's intelligent, and a good debater, but he is not organized, and has too much baggage.  I think the last thing the Republicans want is to simply promote a candidate because they are an "intelligent debater."  

Mitt's progression to candidate seems effortless, from a funding standpoint, as well as a political one.  He seems to have everyone else on the defensive with little or no effort.  He is calm and steady in the defense of his position while those around him become more agitated and irrational.  This morning, Newt demanded that Mitt "tell that to my face!"  to which Mitt responded "Hey, it was just a joke." with a chuckle.  Newt has become that fat little bully on the playground that likes to call people out and push them around because when he looks down he can't see his own peepee.

[Townsend]

I think Newt will be out soon.  He's intelligent, and a good debater, but he is not organized, and has too much baggage.  I think the last thing the Republicans want is to simply promote a candidate because they are an "intelligent debater."  

Mitt's progression to candidate seems effortless, from a funding standpoint, as well as a political one.  He seems to have everyone else on the defensive with little or no effort.  He is calm and steady in the defense of his position while those around him become more agitated and irrational.  This morning, Newt demanded that Mitt "tell that to my face!"  to which Mitt responded "Hey, it was just a joke." with a chuckle.  Newt has become that fat little bully on the playground that likes to call people out and push them around because when he looks down he can't see his own peepee.

I'm with you on that post.  I missed the Newt-Romney exchange but I tend to lean with what you're thinking.

[Gaspar]

I'm with you on that post.  I missed the Newt-Romney exchange but I tend to lean with what you're thinking.

He's cut his bus tour from 40+ stops to 22, and he has had a hard time retaining staff.  It may be sooner than later.

[we vs us]

It also helps that the prospect of a Newt candidacy revved some of the GOP establishment players into high gear behind Romney.  I get the sense that there's been a decision made at certain levels within the Republican power structure that, come what may, Romney's the man . . . and that the longer the romancing of other unelectable candidates goes on the more destructive it will be to the effort to defeat Obama.

[Townsend]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2011/12/28/perry-changes-views-on-abortion.html

Perry Changes Views on Abortion

Rick Perry's efforts to corral the evangelical vote is in Iowa is leading him to revisit some earlier positions. He said Tuesday that he no longer supports abortion under any circumstances, not even in cases of rape or incest. "You're seeing a transformation," Perry told voters when a local pastor asked him how he squared a recent pledge to oppose all abortions with statements earlier in his career that he might support an exception in cases of rape or incest and when the mother's life is in danger. Perry's staff aides note that last week he watched the film The Gift of Life, which features Mike Huckabee interviewing people who say their mothers nearly aborted them.

[Red Arrow]

Perry Changes Views on Abortion
which features Mike Huckabee interviewing people who say their mothers nearly aborted them.

Kind of (necessarily) one sided.

[Gaspar]

Well this signals the final sucking sound of the Bachman campaign.
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/12/28/web-bachmann-pac-goes-romney/

[Gaspar]

Rather scathing review of the Republican field.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/12/28/krauthammer_embarrassing_candidates_making_obama_look_presidential.html

[we vs us]

And the question is still:  why has this cycle attracted such a weak showing on the GOP side?  Where are the big (or bigger) guns? 

It's as if, for all the Obama hate out there on the right, it still somehow can't produce a candidate that will beat him decisively.

[Gaspar]

And the question is still:  why has this cycle attracted such a weak showing on the GOP side?  Where are the big (or bigger) guns? 

It's as if, for all the Obama hate out there on the right, it still somehow can't produce a candidate that will beat him decisively.

The problem lies with the GOP machine. Republicans are viewed as no longer relevant.  I disagree about beating president Obama though. I think his base has become fractured enough, that people are ready to embrace any campaign that offers real economic solutions over failed experiments and continued cronyism.

We won't know until the candidate and the message emerges.

[Red Arrow]

And the question is still:  why has this cycle attracted such a weak showing on the GOP side?  Where are the big (or bigger) guns? 

It's as if, for all the Obama hate out there on the right, it still somehow can't produce a candidate that will beat him decisively.

Nobody wants credit for the current economic mess.  Neither side will give way in Congress so there will be no short term fix.

[Conan71]

And the question is still:  why has this cycle attracted such a weak showing on the GOP side?  Where are the big (or bigger) guns? 

It's as if, for all the Obama hate out there on the right, it still somehow can't produce a candidate that will beat him decisively.

I don't think there's a weak showing.  We've not even had the first primary yet.  You've got seven or so candidates jockeying at the moment so of course the party seems fractured.  Looks like though the wagons are starting to circle around Romney.  He will be a very strong candidate.

What we've learned so far in the cycle is the sort of vetting that is important in finding a suitable candidate.

So far we've learned:

Gingrich is still a petulant little child and his opinion of himself is far too high

No one really knows what Bachmann is doing in the race other than megalomania

The Cain Train went in and out of too many tunnels (nod to Gaspar for that gem)

Ron Paul is too blunt about race issues and is looking more and more like a moron for allowing his name to be used as publisher and editor on a newsletter that he never read

Santorum same issue as Bachmann

Perry seems to have a psychotic side and I think he scares the moderates of the GOP since he's pandering to the hard right so heavily

Huntsman can't really seem to get a good message out.  He's not attracting near the media attention as the other candidates and I don't think anyone is even sure he's serious about the race.

Romney may be moderate enough to garner 50 to 55% of the vote.  Not sure how he's going to play in key states like Florida, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.  Of the lot, I think he's got the most well-rounded resume of leadership.  Key for him will be picking a like-wise moderate VP.  If he goes to the far right like McCain did with Palin and picks someone like Bachmann, he will lose because she's as polarizing a figure as Gingrich.  He doesn't need the Tea Party to get elected.  Tea Partiers will show up and vote against President Obama.

Now, what happens if Ron Paul or Donald Trump goes third party?  Trump might get 1 or 2% of the vote because everyone knows it's little more than an ego trip for him.  Ron Paul might pull 10% of the vote out which, I believe would favor Obama just like Perot did in 1992 and it helped swing it to Clinton.

[Townsend]

Well this signals the final sucking sound of the Bachman campaign.
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/12/28/web-bachmann-pac-goes-romney/

Bachmann: I Can Still Win

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2011/12/29/bachmann-i-can-still-win.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The day after her Iowa campaign chair quit to join Ron Paul's camp, Michele Bachmann is brushing off reports of her campaign's imminent collapse. "Our campaign organization is very strong," she said in Des Moines today, after appearing with her new chairman. Bachmann claimed that Kent Sorenson flipped to Paul simply because he was offered "a lot of money." Still, the Bachmann team hasn't had a good week. A pro-Bachmann super PAC just switched allegiances to Mitt Romney, and a South Carolina endorsement that her campaign bragged about turned out to be a progressive Democrat who said Bachmann's nomination would ensure an Obama win.

[Teatownclown]

Party's whack.

So, have you come to realize only landowners deserve a vote?