Analysis: Romney's GOP critics will get more heat
Photo
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to supporters at the Romney for President New Hampshire primary night rally at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. Behind Romney are his sons Tagg and Craig and his wife Ann.
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney's back-to-back victories in Iowa and New Hampshire will force his weak-but-still-standing GOP rivals to make a crucial decision: Keep eviscerating the man that many see as the inevitable nominee, or temper their criticisms and dampen whatever hopes they have of overtaking him.
"President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him," Romney said in his victory speech Tuesday night, chastising his critics while acting as though he is already the nominee. "This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation."
The former Massachusetts governor's easy win in the New Hampshire primary comes just as two of his opponents have opened the most scathing line of attack yet in the Republican contest. Seizing on Romney's record at the venture capital firm Bain Capital, they are painting him as a heartless profit-seeker who shuttered dozens of workplaces in the 1980s and '90s, laying off thousands of workers.
The attacks have delighted President Barack Obama's backers as they brace for an election focused on jobs. They planned all along to bash Romney with the Bain legacy and are happy to see Republicans get it started.
But the events have alarmed a cross section of establishment Republicans and conservative leaders who feel Romney can beat Obama next fall if he's not badly bloodied in a nominating process he has led from the start.
With New Hampshire over, the campaigning now moves to South Carolina. It has a history of brutal, even nasty campaigning in GOP primaries. It also has a much higher unemployment rate than Iowa and New Hampshire. Both factors might make the state fertile ground for rivals to depict him as a millionaire politician who vacuumed money out of companies and tossed them aside.
"We are quickly approaching the moment when GOP leaders will announce or reaffirm their support for the front-runner and call for a civil tone in the debate so the focus can be directed toward the current officeholder," said Republican consultant Danny Diaz.
A group backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich plans to air TV ads showing distraught people who say they lost their jobs to Bain's restructuring practices during Romney's tenure years ago. Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday likened Bain to vultures that ruin people's lives.
And former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who finished third in New Hampshire, has taken a similar line of attack. He berated Romney for telling a breakfast group Monday: "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me."
Romney was talking about underperforming insurance companies. But his ill-timed remark played into the Bain narrative of a tycoon who doesn't mind killing jobs in the name of efficiency and profits.
The exchanges have triggered an intraparty debate about free enterprise. That debate should not be allowed to scorch the party's frontrunner, Romney's allies say.
"It's a sad day in South Carolina and across this country if Republicans are talking against the free market," said South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. "The free market is being able to hire and fire and do what you need to in terms of being a business or a consumer."
GOP consultant Terry Holt, said, "the last 48 hours have been about skinning Romney. But he comes out of New Hampshire stronger and looking more like the nominee, not less."
New Hampshire voters, Holt said, "might have helped inoculate Romney from future Bain Capital attacks."
Gingrich may be the central player in the drama. Friends say he has every right to fume over hard-hitting attack ads that seriously damaged him in Iowa. A group backing Romney aired the ads, and Romney refused Gingrich's pleas to denounce them.
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Gingrich seemed eager to fire back. He said Bain "apparently looted the companies, left people totally unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars."
Among those condemning Gingrich's attacks were conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, a frequent Romney critic.
"Newt is parroting what The New York Times is writing about Romney," Limbaugh said on a recent broadcast. "This is payback time. It drove him nuts, that series of ads that Romney's super PAC ran in Iowa, and this is the result of it."
Some veteran Republicans are urging calm. Primaries always turn rough, they say, noting that Hillary Rodham Clinton showed little mercy on Obama in 2008.
Others, however, said the pro-Gingrich group is going too far with TV attack ads based on a movie that rips Romney's record at Bain.
"We've seen it time and again," said Phyllis Woods, New Hampshire's Republican National committeewoman. "The Democrats tape it, preserve it and regurgitate it in their own campaigns."
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EDITOR'S NOTE — Charles Babington covers politics for The Associated Press.
Jan 16, 2012 at 12:52 a.m.
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I essentially agree with you poobah.
That is why they need to stop him NOW before he has any real shot.
Because if he wins the nomination, and it's a two man race, anything could happen with an economy so bad.
The GOP establishment is really starting to quiver now, as they all said Paul would be totally dead come SC. He is rising up the polls in SC, and is quickly rising in national polls. Since the GOP establishment alienated the Paul supports to such extreme, once they nominate Romney, all the Paul supporters will just sit out or vote Obama now. Further adding to my claim that Obama will win EASY in November.
Jan 14, 2012 at 2:53 p.m.
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kiowamohican, Paul can't win the presidency. The military industrial complex and central banking power brokers will do anything they need to in order to stop him.
Jan 14, 2012 at 3:01 a.m.
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kaysbrew:
The problem is SOMEONE has to run against him. In a generic vote he'd lose. As soon as you put a real person up against him, is when you have the problems. When a big phoney like Romney is put up against him, you will see many from that same pool, vote Obama. Same as it was with Bush vs Kerry..Bush actually had a far bigger disapproval then does Obama now. It's one thing for a generic poll to say you want him out, quite another when you put a real face up against him.
Jan 14, 2012 at 2:55 a.m.
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SarahB:
The "meltdown" all ready came.
It was on a Faux News interview with Bret Bair a few weeks before Iowa. It was honestly one of the absolute worse interviews I have ever seen. Bair kept pressing him, and he went off like a petulant child: "WAIT A SECOND, WAIT A SECOND...THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID...WAIT A SECOND"..You should be able to find it on you tube..It's beyond awful, and in political terms, I'd call it a melt down.
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Now that Romney is the clear front runner, faux news (who is the flagship of the GOP) has pretty much expunged that interview. Maybe you won't be able to find it anymore, lol.
Jan 14, 2012 at 2:48 a.m.
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RAF:
Paul would fare far better then any current candidate against Obama. Not that polls matter right now, but he polls the same as Romney in a general election vs Obama (a near tie). The big difference is Paul's supports are genuine,passionate, die hard enthusiastic supporters. Romney is just a classic dud, who will have no real broad base enthusiasm (another John McCain). It's your die hard-grass route supporters, that work the ground game, and create a vast local-state networks to achieve victory. It is exactly how Obama won in 08. Paul will win the independent vote by a HUGE margin. He would also will get LOTS of cross over Democrats, most who are very turned off by Obama carrying on with the perpetual wars, and keeping the same tyrannical policies of Bush, which trample all over civil liberties.
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IMO he has BY FAR the best shot to beat Obama. I know the pundits will all strongly deny, and argue that. While all in GOP circles say Romney is the only one who can win, but that is total nonsense. As SarahB, and vatoloco (posters on totally opposite sides) both say, the guy is like a drone. It should be so obvious to see how this guy will be another John Kerry type..Who looks great in primaries, but once you head into the stretch run of a real head to head election, would have pretty much ZERO chance once he's exposed as a classic out of touch elitist.
Jan 13, 2012 at 11:35 p.m.
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I just couldn't support Paul in a primary. I do like many of his ideas but his Perot/McCain like demeanor does not bode well; appears to just want to be in control vs lead. In a general election against Obama I would vote for him, as he is clearly the better candidate, but he would lose big.
Jan 13, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.
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kiowamohican - Excellent post regarding Ron Paul. I think more politicians need to gain the same level of integrity that he has. I may not always agree with what the man has to say, but because of his integrity I can respect it. In this day and age of non stop campaign cycles, 24-hour news coverage, and all out political bickering; we need more people like him.
To often, politicians are so reliant on party politics that the choices come down to public welfare or corporate welfare. It is this mentality that holds back any real solutions to the problems this country faces.
I wish more people would start to realize that if we want to move forward as a society, we need to allow people to have a fair chance to do so. If we keep expecting the status quo of taxing the rich to pay for the poor, that is all that we will get.
Hopefully this country will keep waking up, and do something to make a change. Less government intervention would make a huge difference in how things work. It's just too bad that people generally want government to be smaller at the expense of someone else.
Jan 13, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.
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Sarah -- you had civility for a minute and then just had to step back into the mud -- actually Romney handles pressure much better than Obama.... This is true of nearly any Chicago Dem.....Its just the way they are. Its a how dare you question me attitude and they will accept input -- they just wont pay any attention to it
Jan 13, 2012 at 10:27 a.m.
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I hate to say this but GW has better likeability than Romney.....Romney reminds me of a programmed robot.......
Jan 13, 2012 at 9:25 a.m.
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The problem with Ron Paul is not the message -- its Ron Paul. He is like an angry old grandpa that kicks the cat on the way down the hall. He is unelectable. Just look at his son. Much smoother, easier to relate to and a softer delivery. Ron Paul is the problem with the Ron Paul campaign. Just as Newt is the problem with the Gingrich campaign. Santorum looks like a paper cut-out. What we need is a witty, commen sense, smooth delivery candiate with a good message. It should be so easy to beat Obama, but the GOP leadership, just wants to handpeck someone and force the person upon us. The public will not stand for that.
Jan 13, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.
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It doesn't matter what was said - Obama is a one term President.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washing...
2-1 Americans want him out.
Jan 13, 2012 at 3:11 a.m.
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tthompson:
Paul is running an AMAZING campaign. I have been a Paul supporter for years, and unfortunately his message is often to complex for the average person. I do not say that in arrogance, it's simply the truth. He does not speak in the normal "you rah rah", spin the same rehashed party talking points OVER AND OVER. Often his message gets very complex, and people just write him off as a cook. This year, he's really been amazing. Both post election speeches in NH, and Iowa were SPOT ON! Not overly complex, and not just just the same old rehashed party garbage. I think he's really motivated by all the support that he is getting from the younger generation. Many are finally seeing what myself, and many others have been telling them for year, in that there is hardly any difference between the two parties. Both are in favor of massive welfare. As Fear&Rhetoric quoted from Andrew Napolotin, " There is no 2 party system anymore, its ONE party with a right wing and a left wing. They all believe in welfare and big government, they just have different ideas who should get it" ....DEAD DEAD DEAD ON!
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I think many supporting Paul are also finally starting to see the total SHAM of the MIC (military industrial complex) as well, and why no matter who is in office, we will remain at perpetual war. Now that we left Iraq, all the talk is about invading, and occupying Iran. The MIC is going ALL OUT to make a case of going to war with them. SOME are finally seeing the ruse despite endless propaganda from both parties and the media. Unfortunately, I doubt it will be enough, and you will have ANOTHER election between two complete establishment-status quo guys to carry on the oligarchy.
Jan 13, 2012 at 2:52 a.m.
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All you using these MEANINGLESS polls to put in your mind Romney will beat Obama, may want to consider this tid bit...The SAME time in Jan of 2004 John Kerry was beating Bush by 7 points (53-46)in a theoretical match-up..The Democrats all sucked in, thinking he was the "easy choice" to beat the evil W.
When that match up did in fact take place months later, Bush won easy (by 5 points)after Kerry was exposed as a out of touch, MA, flip flopping elitist.. As I noted, a very large portion of the voting public does not even pay attention to this stuff till October. People on this blog are inside baseball types, who follow it day to day. When Romney is shown to be another elitist MA phoney; like was John Kerry, it will be all over. When November comes, and I am shown to be DEAD ON correct on this, I will be sure to link back to this discussion!
Jan 12, 2012 at 4:11 p.m.
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If I were a lib, I'd find this forum page highly entertaining-GOP loyalists trying to find a guy to all fall in line behind....when effectively the best Republican out there(low taxes, low regulation, caves in to the tea party, killed Bin Laden) is Obama. Bonus that we can also stir up hate(class warfare! that's a favorite of mine...help me patriots. Save me from the class warfare - hahaahaha) and blame him for the deficit and whatnot.
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Fortunately we don't have that problem here in WI. We stand Patriotically united and utterly devoted to every thing Scott Walker. Which means every thing Koch Bros. Beautiful Patriots.
Jan 12, 2012 at 3:26 p.m.
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"This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation."
Not surprised at all as to which one he mentioned first.
Here is the link to that interview Fear mentioned. Sry, heres the link to that AMAZINGLY SANE interview Fear mentioned. RON PAUL 2012!!!!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-ja...
Jan 12, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.
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Out of all the people in the United States, these are the choices we have for Presidents?........man o man are we lame......
Jan 12, 2012 at 2:54 p.m.
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Fear and I disagree on MANY points. So I wanted to make sure that I acknowledged -- that his analysis of the voting public for conservatives is spot on. There is a huge amount of frustration in the voting public, and although I would never vote for Obama, I cant stomach voting for Romney.
I pegged Obama as bad news even before the last election and may have lost some freinds over it. But most have come back and apologized. I will not make the mistake of voting for someone I do not feel is capable of solving our problems. Its not a matter of agreeing with Romney on some issues and not on others. I feel we are at a critical point in the countries path and I refuse to settle for anyone.
Jan 12, 2012 at 2:07 p.m.
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Always nice when you choose to quote only PART of someone's statement-just reaffirms your lack of honesty
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:56 p.m.
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:50 p.m.
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.
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SOrry bebe, your exact words were"
bebe53
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.
Except if you look at the poll results-Romney ends up ahead of Obama in a one-on-one match-up"
Just merely pointing out your misrepresentation for the facts, as usual.
I like adjectives, aparently adjectives change the facts that even with months and months of the spotlight and Romney is close but NOT leading, EVEN in the rasmussen and the Fox polls!!LOL.
You know I have fun discussing issues with you and have enjoyed really showing you facts to quiet you down or at least make your premises look silly, but your un needed attack on teachers shows how low and silly you really are.
I am always game for any discussion with anyone and have no problem arguing factual evidence, or even hyperbolic rhetoric, which you seem to swin in, but attacking teachers for some kind of political satisfaction on your part just shows your general lack of intellect. awwwwww, way to go bebe generalized idiocy once again from you. Silly, silly simpleton.
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:23 p.m.
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@fear-your usual obtuse ranting-where did I ever say he was "whooping" him-I see you still cannot read and comprehend correctly-too much exposure to public school teachers perhaps?
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.
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I'm sure many people have been rolling on the floor watching the Republican power brokers spanking Newt and Perry for bringing up the Bain Capital behavior of Romney. You know, buying companies, firing the workers, selling off the assets and making hundreds of millions of dollars.
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The quandary they have, of course, is that they have to tell Newt to lay off from his criticism because this kind of Romney behavior is "Republican behavior" - it's free enterprise. But when pressed to expound on that idea about buying companies, firing workers and selling off assets at tremendous profits, their usual sheepish reply is that it allows the company to restart and hire even more people - but they won't tell you where those new employees are located -- overseas.
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I hope Newt doesn't back off. Perry is a lap dog, he will back off for sure. If the Republicans think Bain Capital is going away when Newt goes away, they are in for a big surprise.
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SO, LISTEN UP REPUBLICANS! WE HAVE A NEW REPUBLICAN PHRASE NOW FOR SENDING ALL OF OUR JOBS OVERSEAS. IT'S CALLED "FREE ENTERPRISE" AND IT'S THE REPUBLICAN WAY.
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:01 p.m.
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WHat I am wondering is where is Bebe telling us how Romney is whooping Obummer in all the polls? I guess facts kind of quiet people down a little bit.:)
BTW , Jut so we are clear here I will not plug my nose and cast a ballot for Obama in the Fall he has lost me. Betrayed me, IMO. He had a chance to really change this country for a long time in a very positive way. Instead he essentially held the line of the Bush Admin on many positions. Makes me upset that I fell for it, I thought he would be a different guy. Right now a couple of people I enjoy their ideas, are Ron Paul, and Buddy Roemer, BOTH republicans, that may run a thir party ticket. I will not vote Dem Or Repub , probably ever again, thanks to Obama. He is not nearly the criminal that Bush was, but betrayed me none the less and I WILL NOT cast a ballot for someone that I feel has betrayed the people.
Saw Andrew Napolitano on John Stewart a couple of days ago, I loved his take on politics. " There is no 2 party system anymore, its ONE party with a right wing and a left wing. They all believe in welfare and big government, they just have different ideas who should get it" Normally Napolitano drives me nuts, BUT when he gets away from Fox he is a really brilliant guy. He also seems to be really honest too, whod have thunk it?
Jan 12, 2012 at 2:06 a.m.
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Doesn't appear to like my link...
Oh well, you get the idea.
Jan 12, 2012 at 2:04 a.m.
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https://data.intrade.com/graphing/jsp/cl...
Jan 12, 2012 at 2 a.m.
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BTW:
Obama is near 50/50 on Intrade at the moment (regardless of who he faces) to win re-election. So you can basically double your $$ right now. A very solid play, but as I said, just wait till after the dumb public sees Mittens in the lead the day after the GOP convention. Obama will likely be around a +140 (mid 40% chance) underdog to win (the idiots in Europe will panic, and bet Romney all based on the big post convention spike in polling data). That's when you just throw down BIG on Obama. At least that's how I will be playing it.
Here's the tracking chart of Obama:
https://data.intrade.com/graphing/jsp/cl...
The big "spike" you see in the chart where he went over 70% was the day they killed Bin Laden, lol.
Jan 12, 2012 at 1:46 a.m.
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fear&rhetoric:
As I have posted in other blogs, Romeny will be beat like a drum by Obama in November. I am so confident in that, that I will make one of the largest wagers of my life on Intrade. It will be 2004 in reverse. Where it's the GOP this time who sucks into the 'safe' candidate, who they feel is the only one who can beat a VERY VULNERABLE incumbent. Of course the dems sucked into nominating the 'safe' John Kerry in 2004 to take on Bush who had AWFUL job approval ratings (much like Obama now).
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Both Kerry and Romney are classic out of touch Massachusetts yuppies. Who are so far out of touch with the average Joe public, that they will try to pretend to be 'normal'. Remember the absolute farce that Kerry did in 2004? Going on a staged duck hunting trip in Ohio to try to connect with hunters. Wearing the hard hats while visiting factories. Getting fake tans (that turned out orange). Even a dumb public could see the guy was as phoney as a $3 bill no matter how hard he tried to show otherwise. Consequently Bush (who everyone said would be beat) won, and won VERY EASY (in election terms).
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The exact same thing will happen here. Romney is simply a GOP version of John Kerry. He will flip flop on issue after issue, do and say anything to gain broad support. Make everyone in a room of supporters feel good, and like he can win. However; in the end, the public will just see another out of touch MA phoney. This is so obvious to me, that I will literally back up the truck betting this one. Wait till after the GOP convention. Romney will likely take a lead in the pools, as they typically get a good 5% post convention boost..That lead will dwindle in no time, and Obama will take the lead, and never look back. Just as was Kerry v Bush...Once the average Joe voter (who starts following the race 3 weeks before the election) sees the guy is a total out of touch phoney, it's all over. He'll be totally lost. All the pools now mean NOTHING. Wait till late October, and I guarantee you Obama will have a STRONG lead in the polls, and be a near shoe in over Mittens.
Jan 11, 2012 at 11:32 p.m.
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I think the posts in this particular blog amongst conservatives show IMO the positions of conservatives and IMO, the general dis satisfaction with this field.
Jan 11, 2012 at 11:30 p.m.
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If you think Romney is taking a beating now, then what do you think Obama and all his money will do? He is in for the beating of his life. He is a far weaker candidate than McCain was and will bebeaten, not because Obama deserves abnother term, but moreover because the Republicans have failed so miserably at putting forth a respectable candidate.
Romney beats Obama in general? Hows about the Rasmussen poll, which is largely conservative leaning(IMO).
General Election: Romney vs. Obama
RCP Average
12/5 - 1/10
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46.9
45.1
Obama +1.8
Rasmussen Reports
1/9 - 1/10
1000 LV
44
41
Obama +3
Reuters/Ipsos
1/5 - 1/9
896 RV
48
43
Obama +5
CBS News
1/4 - 1/8
1247 RV
45
47
Romney +2
CNN/Opinion Research
12/16 - 12/18
928 RV
52
45
Obama +7
PPP (D)
12/16 - 12/18
700 RV
45
47
Romney +2
ABC News/Wash Post
12/15 - 12/18
RV
47
47
Tie
USA Today/Gallup
12/15 - 12/18
898 RV
50
48
Obama +2
Associated Press/GfK
12/8 - 12/12
1000 A
47
46
Obama +1
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl
12/7 - 12/11
RV
47
45
Obama +2
FOX News
12/5 - 12/7
911 RV
44
42
Obama +2
Obama +3
And try to remember that More than likely there are 3 factors at play here.
1) Ron Paul as an independant.
2) Low Republican turnout, showing a lack of enthusiasm from the base.
3) Hilary Clinton as a possible VP, she is the most admired person in politics right now.
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:40 p.m.
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Obama has been pretty good at keeping the status quo for us wealthy, while giving us GOP a target to blame everything on.
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But still - I can hardly wait for the tax cuts and deregulations I expect with a GOP president and congress. A great return on my investment in ownership of governmeny. I expect my donations to reap a hundredfold in benefits for me! Beautiful.
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And the best part is, with tapping every oil well, cutting forests, mining galore, sugaring up the markets, and boosting brain dead consumption we can create another giant unsustainable bubble. It'll bust, but would be a ways off and we'd look like genious in the short term. And in the ADD Patriot society- short term is all that matters.
Jan 11, 2012 at 7:52 p.m.
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mitt said that he likes to fire people.. another great republican he is.
Jan 11, 2012 at 7:44 p.m.
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lol, that dang socialist Warren Buffet http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/bu...
Jan 11, 2012 at 5:45 p.m.
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I would like to see all the candidates pile on
Romney in SC and give him the beating he needs. The political process demands the strongest will survive. If Romney wins after being roughed up, I'll support him. Let's see if he can take it.
Jan 11, 2012 at 2:58 p.m.
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" Historically, Presidents that were Democrats have been able to grow our economy at greater rate than any Republican."
They also grow the role and expansion of government.
Jan 11, 2012 at 2:37 p.m.
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WalterReuther - You'll be waiting for another terrorist attack so there can be an excuse to start a war? Why don't you go tell that to those defending the ground you walk on. As far as taxes, feel free to donate as much of your income as you want.
Jan 11, 2012 at 2:33 p.m.
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PanamaRed,
A lot of the reason for that is the simpleton Republican formula for turning an economy around: less taxes, more war. Just watch a "President" Romney will make the Bush tax cuts permanent and then invade Iran without paying for it. Then he'll tell us that the tax cuts will somehow eventually bring in the revenue to pay for the war and the tax cuts. Sounds familiar doesn't it. If a Republican takes the White House, I'll be waiting for the next "terrorist attack" that can be conveniently blamed on Iran so there can be an excuse to start up another war.
Jan 11, 2012 at 2:28 p.m.
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I have great difficulty admiring a man who has a $10 million dollar summer home, makes $10 thousand dollar bets, and in the same voice claims to understand the plight of the middle class. His continual smirk is only surpassed by our former Texas disappointment. His past record will only hurt his chances at becoming POTUS. Republicans can't actually believe he'll defeat Obama in November. IMO, the only Republican candidate that merited a second look was Huntsman.
Jan 11, 2012 at 2:27 p.m.
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PanamaRed - It's called trying to spend your way out of a situation. We are now even further in debt. What does that prove? It's alarming how many people think this Country can continue to write checks they can't cash. We wonder why we are so in trouble? This isn't me talking from a Republican viewpoint either. As primarily a Republican, I voted for Clinton because I thought he would do a better job. Obama will never be like many of the past great Democratic Presidents. Sorry, but there is no comparison. He is not a leader and will go down as one of the worst Presidents in History. Just like many said about Bush.
Jan 11, 2012 at 1:54 p.m.
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Excellent post Walter. Your assessment is absolutely correct. Given the state of the economy when Obama took over it's nothing short of incredible that we were able to stave of an even greater depression. Historically, Presidents that were Democrats have been able to grow our economy at greater rate than any Republican. An extensive data base available from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a unit of the Dept. of Commerce, tracks the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United.States. During the period when a Democrat is President the GDP growth rate is 3 times as great as when a Republican is President (5.1% vs. 1.8%). Beginning in 1929, the four Presidents with the greatest average GDP (5.6%) were ALL Democrats while the Presidents with the lowest average GDP (-0.07%) were ALL Republicans. Even if you leave out Hoover the average is a paltry 2.2%. From living through the Reagan and Bush presidencies I have discovered that as a means of governing, conservatism is another name for economic disaster. The facts speak for themselves.
Jan 11, 2012 at 1:44 p.m.
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Does the left realize that we didnt have nor require a federal tax until the progressives decided that big government and government jobs are what drives the process, nor until the government began in a big way to attempt to coerce the free market with government regulation? The progressives are on both sides-- they can be liberals or repubs. Walter is unable to identify that the true cause of our problems is government over reach into our lives and businesses. Government just needs to get out of the way and protect us from invasion.
Jan 11, 2012 at 1:12 p.m.
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WalterReuther - Interesting theory. I say that because many republicans say the same thing with regards to Walker and what Doyle left behind. The problem is, the left will never admit that. They will however continue to blame Bush and be completely hypocritical about a similar situation. I also find in interesting that you think the economy is back on it's feet. I've spoken with many business owners. They don't see it...I don't see it.
Jan 11, 2012 at 1:02 p.m.
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"Then he would have dismantled our entire economy and sold it off piece by piece to the highest bidders in order to turn a profit for the investors (China). Then we'd all be left with no jobs, no economy, no country really"
As long as those public sector union jobs are in place Wally, liberals don't care about the economy or jobs. Government workers sustain this country you know.
Jan 11, 2012 at 12:36 p.m.
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It's all part of the process in primaries. Obama will lose no matter who is the GOP winner.
Obama is major failure and the bleeding must stop.
Jan 11, 2012 at 12:20 p.m.
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It always amazes me how people believe that 8 years of bad policy under Bush that played a large part in sinking this economy can be turned around and completely fixed in 2 or 3 years. I can understand that Republicans would be unreasonable in their expectations of President Obama. It's independents that I can't understand. Between huge unpaid for tax cuts and wars and financial deregulation that led to criminal mishandling and the ultimate near total collapse of our financial system, Republican policy beat our economy mercilessly and left it for dead. President Obama stepped in and was able to carefully resuscitate the economy, get it back up on its feet and it has started walking around on its own again. It will be some time before it's back to full strength. The problem is we have Republicans and many independents looking at the economy and asking why it hasn't run a marathon already. For Romney to speculate that he could have done better is kind of funny. He probably would have treated it like one of his business "successes". He would have pumped some money into it, stimulus style. Then he would have dismantled our entire economy and sold it off piece by piece to the highest bidders in order to turn a profit for the investors (China). Then we'd all be left with no jobs, no economy, no country really. Let a business man run our country. The next thing you know we'll be saluting a different flag while President Romney is counting his money.
Jan 11, 2012 at 11:21 a.m.
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Here is a typical Republican dirty trick on Huntsman adopted daughters.
http://www.firstpost.com/world/ruckus-ov...
I would bet it was not a Ron Paul PAC but a Romney undercover dirty political trick.
Just like the Bush attack on McCain in 2000 in SC where the late night robocall insinuated McCain fathered a black baby. This is why I left the Republican party.
Jan 11, 2012 at 11:08 a.m.
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I was rooting for Perry. Romney clobbered Perry over being soft on immigration. When 37% of Texan voters are Hispanic with relatives in Mexico, the governor better be soft or he won't be governor of Texas very long. The hispanic vote in California and Texas could have went to Perry, but no longer.
Then I looked at Newt. I'm sure Newt could get the Congress moving to work together and get something done. I don't think any candidate knows Congress more than Newt. Romney's PAC again, spends millions in attack ads to bring Newt down. For the media to play Romney the good guy is nonsense.
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:40 a.m.
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I am being covinced that Ron Paul or other (fill in name) would be a much better choice, even though he is being painted as a radical, I just do not believe the information being fed to the public.
Oh -- by the way -- I told everyone what Obama was like and some of my co-workers said -- no he is not like that. Now after 3 years, they realize I was correct, so I will continue to trust my own judgement as I have been proven right on my reads of people over and over again.
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:37 a.m.
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bebe -- I talk to allot of people, and many do not agree with the results, so I am very skeptical of the polls. The point I am making is I do not believe the polls. I believe we are being fed eroneous data and rigged poll data, to be tricked into supporting and inferior candidate. If this is the GOP path, I may vote for an independent -- if one runs. IN the end -- I would vote for anyone but Obama, but I have a very bad taste in my mouth over Romney. He is the GOP version of a milder socialist.
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.
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Except if you look at the poll results-Romney ends up ahead of Obama in a one-on-one match-up in some of them and fares better than the other Republicans in almost all polls-primarily because he is appealing to more independents-and Obama is now losing a lot of the Independents who voted for him in the last election-guess the Independents of this country don,t like a socialist leading us-which is what he is
Jan 11, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.
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Bebe; everything you say is true but, a Romney nomination would play into Obama class warfare, republicans for the rich propaganda.
With the real unemployment around 16% and millions no longer looking for work, Romney the rich guy that closes business down may not go well with voters.
Jan 11, 2012 at 9:35 a.m.
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Doesn't matter-Obama has done his best to cause his own defeat-high unemployment,a stagnant economy,massive increase in federal debt,class warfare,a multi-trillion dollar health care act that was shoved up the collective backside of the American public-etc,etc,etc-sad that this is the best the Democrats have to offer-this guy has NO idea how to lead a country
Jan 11, 2012 at 9:24 a.m.
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Romney is a retread, a leftover from 2008 election. If he is so great, why did he lose to Johnny Mac four year ago? This guy is the republicans best hope to beat the president? Mitt will probably put Palin as vice.
Jan 11, 2012 at 9:14 a.m.
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Obama doesn't have the Hispanic,tea or conservative vote either-
President Romney has a nice ring to it don't you agree?
Jan 11, 2012 at 8:46 a.m.
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What's the matter Mitt, can't take a punch? Romney didn't have a problem ripping his fellow Republicans in Iowa. New Hampshire is his home field. Romney was expected to win NH by over 30 points months ago, so I'd hardly call this a great win. Let's see how the rich elite east coast Republican establishment RINO does in Dixie. Keep this in mind, Mitt doesn't have the Hispanic, TEA, or conservative vote.
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