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John Ziegler

Thanks to conservative “issues,” Obama now holds all the cards

In short, it shouldn’t be this way, but, as of today, the only way Romney becomes president is for him to win a bloody primary war and then have the economy be perceived as being in complete collapse. Even then, the general election would probably still be very close.

A more likely scenario is that Santorum continues to zoom past Romney, Gingrich finally (in the ultimate act of revenge on Romney) drops out, and Romney, stripped of his cloak of inevitability and electability, is toast. As impossible as it may be to believe (and much to the chagrin of Tim Pawlenty, who easily could have been in this position) Rick Santorum, who has spent years being largely shunned by the conservative movement, will likely be the Republican nominee for president.

Santorum, of course barring a catastrophe for Obama, would not win in November. He would be easily portrayed as too green, too extreme on social issues, and too prone to saying “wacky” things, to defeat Obama unless the president was all but a mortally wounded.

There are many people/elements to blame for this tragedy of the chance to limit Obama to one term being allowed to slip through our fingers. Here is a preliminary and partial list.

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Yawn.

portlandon on February 14, 2012 at 3:42 PM

I’ll save you the trouble.

Newt Gingrich, who out of ego and a selfish desire for revenge, legitimized the dishonest attacks on Romney’s financial career and character.

Sarah Palin, who in a selfish desire to maintain her own long-term relevance, convinced some conservatives that there was no harm in a long a bruising primary campaign (the reality is that this works only for Democrats who can then say to their friends in the media that in the general election any attacks are “old news,” while for Republicans they become “legitimized”).

Rush Limbaugh, who wrongly persuaded millions of conservatives that beating Obama will be relatively easy, that conservatism is all that is needed to do so, and that Mitt Romney could not be trusted to govern as a conservative.

Tim Pawlenty’s financial backers, who stupidly allowed everything to be bet on a meaningless Ames straw poll and then lacked the foresight to see that all the old rules had changed and that Pawlenty was still extremely well-positioned to inevitably become the only electable “Not Romney” in the race.

The conservative media, which, out of either Limbaugh’s delusions or a cynical economic desire to keep the primaries going and to have Obama re-elected to preserve their job security, have largely stifled the obvious reality that Mitt Romney (prior to the developments of the past few weeks) was the only declared candidate with a legitimate chance to beat Obama.

Ziegler must be really bummed that FrumForum is out of business.

fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 3:43 PM

Sarah Palin

Ziegler’s butt hurt continues….

portlandon on February 14, 2012 at 3:44 PM

He would be easily portrayed as too green, too extreme on social issues, and too prone to saying “wacky” things…

Is he talking about Obumba ’08?

Dingbat63 on February 14, 2012 at 3:45 PM

Romney would not win in November.

El_Terrible on February 14, 2012 at 3:46 PM

With all these GOP strategists wetting themselves, instead of mandated contraceptives, we should have have mandated diapers…

mjbrooks3 on February 14, 2012 at 3:47 PM

Anyone will win in November against Obama. After that, it’s just more decline.

rickv404 on February 14, 2012 at 3:48 PM

Far too many conservatives have acted like they don’t really want to beat Obama, and we are all likely to pay a very deep price for that.

Yep.

Thanks a bunch, conservatives.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:48 PM

This goofy looking f**kwit again?

MadisonConservative on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Ziegler’s right about one thing: Obama will beat Santorum easily. In fact, it will be an embarrassing landslide for the GOP that will cost us any chance of winning the Senate and our House majority, as well. Santorum cannot be allowed to win the nomination.

Of course, I think Romney/Newt/Paul would lose, as well…as is becoming more apparent every day. Romney never was all that electable. He was simply the next in line.

Our only hope is a brokered convention and someone other than one of these four boobs.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Santorum, of course barring a catastrophe for Obama, would not win in November. He would be easily portrayed as too green, too extreme on social issues, and too prone to saying “wacky” things, to defeat Obama unless the president was all but a mortally wounded.

Uh, you mean the Dems will employ the same playbook they’ve used for the past half century? And how many Presidential elections have the Republicans won in that time frame? A majority of them. Right, John?

Doughboy on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

John, Mega Mac has some sweat collecting between her rolls. Why don’t you go dab that dry.

MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

Ziegler’s butt hurt continues….

portlandon on February 14, 2012 at 3:44 PM

I have an idea on how to revive Oprah’s stuggling “OWN” network: “Jilted Brides with your host John Ziegler”.

Kataklysmic on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

Anyone will win in November against Obama. After that, it’s just more decline.

rickv404 on February 14, 2012 at 3:48 PM

No, “anyone” will not.

It’s going to be “fun”, and depressing, to emphasize that point to some of you, come November, when Santorum gets landslided.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

Our only hope is a brokered convention and someone other than one of these four boobs.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Basically.

Go, Rick, go!

Go, Newt, go!

Go, Ron, go!

MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 3:51 PM

No, “anyone” will not.

It’s going to be “fun”, and depressing, to emphasize that point to some of you, come November, when Santorum gets landslided.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

What McCain states from 2008 will Santorum not hold onto? I take it you also predict Obama will hold onto Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, and Florida(as well as that single electoral vote in Nebraska)?

Doughboy on February 14, 2012 at 3:52 PM

What I want to know is what Ziegler is holding over the sites who continue to publish his drivel.

NoNails on February 14, 2012 at 3:52 PM

There are many people/elements to blame for this tragedy of the chance to limit Obama to one term being allowed to slip through our fingers.

I’ll bet he lists everyone except Romney shills who have spent the last six months convinced that all they need to do is completely discredit the current frontrunner for Romney to take his rightful place.

HitNRun on February 14, 2012 at 3:52 PM

It’s going to be “fun”, and depressing, to emphasize that point to some of you, come November, when Santorum gets landslided.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

Don’t worry, Romney will likely drive off Santorum with another shot from the “Death Star.” Then you guys can wail, gnash your teeth, and otherwise blame the sinister right wing conspiracy when your anointed messiah who will manage big government “competently” loses.

Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 3:53 PM

Santorum gets landslided.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

So Santorum’s going to get the nomination?

I thought ~~Romney Bachmann Perry Cain Gingrich~~ Romney was.

fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 3:53 PM

Our only hope is a brokered convention and someone other than one of these four boobs.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

In other words, four more years of Obama.

Well done.

Good Lt on February 14, 2012 at 3:54 PM

Ziegler’s right about one thing: Obama will beat Santorum easily. In fact, it will be an embarrassing landslide for the GOP that will cost us any chance of winning the Senate and our House majority, as well. Santorum cannot be allowed to win the nomination.

Of course, I think Romney/Newt/Paul would lose, as well…as is becoming more apparent every day. Romney never was all that electable. He was simply the next in line.

Our only hope is a brokered convention and someone other than one of these four boobs.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Well, if Ziegler’s wrong about everything else in his piece as you infer, why would he be right about Santorum’s election chances? Wishful thinking on your part I suspect.

A brokered convention would probably yield Jeb Bush or some other moderate. I don’t want another Bush in the White House for a very long time.

KickandSwimMom on February 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM

Ziegler’s right about one thing: Obama will beat Santorum easily. In fact, it will be an embarrassing landslide for the GOP that will cost us any chance of winning the Senate and our House majority, as well. Santorum cannot be allowed to win the nomination.
DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

And, you see, it will the “The Establishment”‘s fault when he loses.

Because everything is “The Establishment”‘s fault, or something.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM

I noticed no one really refuted what he said. I thought it was a pretty good summary of what has happened the past 4-5 months.

But everyone saw the name and the chorus of monkey screams began.

RINO on February 14, 2012 at 3:56 PM

Our only hope is a brokered convention and someone other than one of these four boobs.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM

And if that happens, I hope Palin comes out as the nominee for 2 reasons
1. obama is only planning on running against mitt, and this would throw their plans out of whack
2. to shove in Zeiglers face.

ConservativePartyNow on February 14, 2012 at 3:56 PM

It’s going to be “fun”, and depressing, to emphasize that point to some of you, come November, when Santorum gets landslided.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM

I think that’s right. Santorum is a really nice guy, but he’s basically a single-issue candidate (family/social stuff) in an election cycle dominated by economic issues. He also has no demonstrated ability to fundraise or organize an effective campaign. Obama and his team of MSM jackals will smear him so badly, it will make what they did to Sarah Palin in 2008 look like child’s play.

Either way, this primary process has been very destructive to the party. Say what you want about 2008, but Obama supporters loved Obama, and Clinton supporters loved Clinton, and the argument was which of the candidates would make a better president. Our race is pretty much comprised of a group of voters (me included) who have settled on Mitt Romney and another, much larger, group of voters who hate Mitt Romney and who glom onto an endless succession of “not-Romney” candidates. It’s a very negative vibe.

Outlander on February 14, 2012 at 3:57 PM

But everyone saw the name and the chorus of monkey screams began.

RINO on February 14, 2012 at 3:56 PM

portlandon on February 14, 2012 at 3:58 PM

Santorum, of course barring a catastrophe for Obama, would not win in November. He would be easily portrayed as too green, too extreme on social issues, and too prone to saying “wacky” things,

You know, you are talking about the same nation that elected Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

Barack Obama? Remember him? Domestic terrorist chap? Never had a job?

Before Obama, there was a guy named George W. Bush, who beat the sitting VP of a successful administration and won a second term. Remember Bush? “Incipient Theocracy”? Dirt-eatin, Bible-thumpin, Barbecuin Redneck? Believed in Jesus? Held the line on embryo farming?

I can certainly see how Santorum can lose if he starts going off on his Jesuit evangelist shtick on the stump again. But do keep in mind that this country and its media are based in entirely different cultures. Most of Rick Santorum’s positions are the majority, and none of them are going to cost him a single state as long he can shake the impression that he’s obsessed with them.

Whether he can or not is another story.

HitNRun on February 14, 2012 at 3:59 PM

I noticed no one really refuted what he said. I thought it was a pretty good summary of what has happened the past 4-5 months.

But everyone saw the name and the chorus of monkey screams began.

RINO on February 14, 2012 at 3:56 PM

His whining about Rush Limbaugh is totally off base. Rush has been both critical of all the candidates and has found good things to say about all of them (including Romney). If Romney is nominated, Rush will support him 100%. As usual, the people who bash Rush don’t listen and start constructing strawmen by projecting their delusions onto blog posts.

fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Great article. He is spot on.

Jailbreak on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Because everything is “The Establishment”‘s fault, or something.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM

Well, given that we’re on the precipice of national bankruptcy, the super-geniuses who have been running the Republican Party for the last two decades may just not be doing the best possible job.

Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM

Are you really convinced that Gov. Romney can beat The Won?

Cindy Munford on February 14, 2012 at 4:01 PM

So he claims that Romney was “forced” to go negative. Really, that’s his excuse for Romney’s nasty campaign?

Rose on February 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM

Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Roger that!

Cindy Munford on February 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM

In other words, four more years of Obama.

Well done.

Good Lt on February 14, 2012 at 3:54 PM

*golf clap for Romney.

Hey, it takes time to have hair like that.

MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:03 PM

Here is a crazy idea. Lets stop portraying our own candidates as losers and focus on building them up and contrasting them with obama. Romney is really not exactly the same as Obama. And Rick is not more extreme than the won either. Santorum believes no more than what the Catholic church teaches on social issues, and there is enough a lot of people who at least identify themselves as Catholics. Obama is the extreme socialist liberal, on social issues as well as economic issues. We just need to stop rolling over and start fighting for our guys instead of joining the left in destroying them.

neuquenguy on February 14, 2012 at 4:03 PM

Great article. He is spot on.

Jailbreak on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Wow, what a farking surprise!

fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 4:04 PM

His whining about Rush Limbaugh is totally off base. Rush has been both critical of all the candidates and has found good things to say about all of them (including Romney). If Romney is nominated, Rush will support him 100%. As usual, the people who bash Rush don’t listen and start constructing strawmen by projecting their delusions onto blog posts.

fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

He has been relatively fair to Romney. But may I remind you:

“I have to remind you, again, that Gingrich debated John Kerry on Global Warming at one point and they agreed on practically every point. Nobody is innocent. Everybody is guilty of some transgression somewhere against Conservatism…except Santorum. See you tomorrow.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/listeners-wonder-if-rush-limbaugh-snuck-a-secret-santorum-endorsement-into-todays-show/

Everybody is guilty except Santorum? Are you kidding me? He was sending out his marching orders and then denied it later.

RINO on February 14, 2012 at 4:04 PM

Great article. He is spot on.

Jailbreak on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

How does it feel to agree with a washed up, Palin brownnoser?

MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:04 PM

too prone to saying “wacky” things, to defeat Obama

Obama voiced support for the infanticide of newborn babies. He still got elected.

steebo77 on February 14, 2012 at 4:05 PM

Is the author praising A) Mitt “ObamaCare Isn’t Worth Getting Angry About” Romney, B) Mitt “I Like Firing People” Romney, or C) Mitt “I’m Not Worried About the Very Poor” Romney?

Gee, it sure *has* to be the fault of “someone else” that Romney is having such difficulties…..

Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:06 PM

I think that’s right. Santorum is a really nice guy, but he’s basically a single-issue candidate (family/social stuff) in an election cycle dominated by economic issues. He also has no demonstrated ability to fundraise or organize an effective campaign.

Outlander on February 14, 2012 at 3:57 PM

What primary campaign have you been watching? Santorum does talk about the importance of the family, but most of the time it’s within the context of economics. For example, most people living under the poverty level are in single-parent homes vs. households with dual incomes. The rest of the time he focuses on Obamacare, energy policy, tax reform, and foreign policy.

I’ve never seen such a level of paranoia and projection. Even the people who were deathly afraid of a Palin candidacy didn’t resort to this kind of misinformation and hyperbole.

Doughboy on February 14, 2012 at 4:06 PM

So he claims that Romney was “forced” to go negative. Really, that’s his excuse for Romney’s nasty campaign?

Rose on February 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM

The guys a whackadoodle. Newt Gingrich at a strip club has more credibility.

MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:07 PM

The people who say with full confidence that Obama will not get reelected are either A) Misguided, B) Fooling themselves, or C) Idiots. Obama is ahead in every poll. Can he be defeated? Yes. Is it going to be some landslide cakewalk? Absolutely not. Please try to temper expectations.

inthemiddle on February 14, 2012 at 4:07 PM

Hey, Ziegler got a new gig as a HuffPo contributor! Good on him!

steebo77 on February 14, 2012 at 4:08 PM

And, you see, it will the “The Establishment”‘s fault when he loses.

Because everything is “The Establishment”‘s fault, or something.

Vyce on February 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM

There will be plenty of fingerpointing, either way.
If the nominee is Santorum or Gingrich, the loss will be blamed on “the Establishment,” as you say. If the nominee is Romney, his loss will be blamed on “those Tea Party extremists” who stayed home rather than vote for Willard.

We really do need a brokered convention. There are a lot of preferable options to these four: Jindal, O’Donnell (the VA one), Daniels, Palin (yes, Palin), Ryan, etc etc. It’s not like Santorum, Romney, and Gingrich were ever the cream of the crop.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 4:08 PM

So true.

It’s hilarious in a way, if you really think about it.

DanStark on February 14, 2012 at 4:09 PM

Obama vs. Santorum
PPP (D) 2/9 – 2/12 1200 RV 49 44 Obama +5

Obama vs. Romney
PPP (D) 2/9 – 2/12 1200 RV 49 42 Obama +7

You were saying something about Santorum being unelectable but Romney being a sure thing?

angryed on February 14, 2012 at 4:09 PM

Here is a crazy idea. Lets stop portraying our own candidates as losers and focus on building them up and contrasting them with obama. Romney is really not exactly the same as Obama. And Rick is not more extreme than the won either. Santorum believes no more than what the Catholic church teaches on social issues, and there is enough a lot of people who at least identify themselves as Catholics. Obama is the extreme socialist liberal, on social issues as well as economic issues. We just need to stop rolling over and start fighting for our guys instead of joining the left in destroying them.

neuquenguy on February 14, 2012 at 4:03 PM

You need to understand that the Republican Party is flying apart at the seams. The party does not agree on anything – they don’t agree on spending, they don’t agree on social issues, and they don’t agree on foreign policy. The Republican Party is nothing more than a fragmented coalition of groups who, for various reasons, oppose the Democrats.

A significant portion of the party has no problem with spending into infinity, they just think they can manage it better and want to have their hands in the cookie jar instead of the Democrats. That would be why we’ve seen the GOP vote for most spending increases since 2010.

I frankly think we’re headed for a Whig style breakup because the left-leaning factions are no longer willing to tolerate the small government conservatives, and vice-versa. 2010 proved that.

Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:09 PM