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.
Blowback
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Anyone with a pair of eyes and a keyboard can summarize the last four to five months. Woop. Give the man a cookie. Or his own blog.
Does he deserve anything else? I’d suggest some cr*p flung at him as well.
kim roy on February 14, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Basically. The entire piece is drivel. His main point is that conservatives, unlike him, lacked the Wisdom of Solomon to see that Romney is the only one who can beat Obama. So now we are doomed to four more years and he gets to feel smug on his high horse pointing and saying neener neener.
Kataklysmic on February 14, 2012 at 4:11 PM
That will change when the nomination process is over and there are options given to our current situation. Especially if rumors of higher unemployment and gas prices become reality.
Cindy Munford on February 14, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Okay, that’s just nasty.
slickwillie2001 on February 14, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Obama will crush Santorum. Santorum couldn’t even win in PA, his HOME STATE, he will suffer a crushing defeat, worse than McCain did. At least McCain had Palin.
Newt would have been crushed.
Romney was the ONLY chance we had.
The USA as we know it is OVER.
I’ll still vote for whoever the GOP puts against Obama, but I know it will be in vain.
Good-bye America, I loved ya’!
JustTruth101 on February 14, 2012 at 4:13 PM
I wasn’t alive back in 1980, but my dad told me how the “establishment” said Reagan had no chance to beat Carter, that they had to rally around Anderson because he was “electable.” They said Reagan would lose in a landslide, because he was “too extreme.” My dad said that Gerald Ford (who had lost in 1976) was campaigning for Anderson, and warning that if Anderson did not get the nomination the GOP would be destroyed, etc.
It seems like Mittens=Anderson.
Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Yep. After the wingnuts follow the radio talkers off the proverbial cliff, maybe we can rebuild a more rational party.
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Ziegler again?
DB9 on February 14, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Why wait? Go join the No Labels Party and take Mittens with you.
Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Exhibit A.
Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:19 PM
would someone get this guy off the stage. he is one of the bigger idiots at teh daily caller
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:19 PM
hahahaha
The small tent party.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Maybe you should have read a little more of the article you linked.
Certainly John Zeigler is just making crap up.
fiatboomer on February 14, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I’m with you CPN, but also to shove it in many others’ faces and watch as the amusing hysteria ensues and heads explode.
/A man can dream, can’t he?
ornery_independent on February 14, 2012 at 4:21 PM
You know, the thing is, theleftwinger really is giving away the secret we all know. Romney and his crony buddies would hack up the party to mirror their progressive goals. Back to the party of Teddy Roosevelt, I guess.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:21 PM
yeap but our problem is that Santourm is not equal to Reagan. still him and newt are the best out of the field.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:22 PM
BTW, I meant McConnell, not O’Donnell im my last post.
DRayRaven on February 14, 2012 at 4:22 PM
With all due respect Mr. Zeigler, if I have the choice between your analysis and Rush’s, I’ll take Rush’s every time. Keep practicing and maybe someday you too can be a big-time political commentator.
mpk on February 14, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Herman Cain, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and now Rick Santorum? Lolz.
Party has lost it’s mind in the past four years apparently.
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Teddy would be considered a right wing extreme candidate by the Mittheads because he hunted and believed in God.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Absolutely!!!
Obama/Romney
PPP (D) 2/9 – 2/12 1200 RV 49 42 Obama +7
Obama/Santy
PPP (D) 2/9 – 2/12 1200 RV 49 44 Obama +5
angryed on February 14, 2012 at 4:24 PM
I don’t care about that. I want it so our country can be saved.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Nah, I’d settle for Reagan though.
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Hey, Mitt sets mice traps or something.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:28 PM
What Mittbots want is the GOP to be more like the Democrat party.
Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM
He is wrong on several accounts.
First, Romney needed the base to win. And the base has never been excited about Romney. You simply cannot win without the base.
Two, anyone can beat Obama. They just have to be willing to go all in.
Bigbullets on February 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Reagan wouldn’t have been elected without the “whacked out” base you’re trying to push out of the party. So, while you may settle for Reagan, you prefer Rockefeller.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:30 PM
I didn’t know anything about “establishment” Republicans back then but even Goldwater threw Reagan over for THE PARTY. I’m not sure anyone has the nation’s best interests anymore.
Cindy Munford on February 14, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Even though there is evidence (see the UK and such) that this type of move would completely neuter the GOP.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:30 PM
The “base” hasn’t always been like this. I don’t recall any embarrassing unserious candidates like Herman Cain being promoted in 2008.
It’s gotten so bad some people now refer to Bush 43 as a RINO.
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:32 PM
I should make clear that I don’t think Santorum is anywhere near to equal with Reagan. (Eventhough I was just a baby when Reagan was in office).
However, Santorum is a whole lot better than Mittens.
Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:33 PM
I think the GOP is using the British Conservative Party as their model. They’ll just keep squeezing the small-government base until they’re driven into the political wilderness.
Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:33 PM
I have said it. And I will repeat it.
Obama will win comfortably in November.
Romney will emerge, bloodied and bruised come election time. The negative ads will pull down his favorability.
liberal4life on February 14, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Your dad taught you well. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Reagan this time. The candidate closest to him who is still in the race is Newt.
Of course, there is one who is not in the race who is very much like Reagan…..and it’s a she. ;o)
kakypat on February 14, 2012 at 4:33 PM
The GOP will betray you..Or something like that..
Dire Straits on February 14, 2012 at 4:34 PM
on everything but taxes.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Bush 43 WAS a RINO. A big government “compassionate conservative.”
About the only thing Bush did right was the War on Terror, and his appointment of judges to the SCOTUS and other Courts.
Raquel Pinkbullet on February 14, 2012 at 4:35 PM
“Rockefeller” lmao. I supported Fred Thompson and then after he dropped out I went with Mitt Romney. I’m about the farthest thing from a Rockefeller Republican there is. Those haven’t existed for about 3 or 4 decades anyway.
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:36 PM
NoNails on February 14, 2012 at 3:52 PM
I think he has a photo of Allah in a compromising position with a cat.
HerneTheHunter on February 14, 2012 at 4:37 PM
One thing I have begun to notice about “conservative” hypocrites like Mr. Ziegler is that they’re oooo so populist when confronting liberal elites, but when Republican voters begin to coalesce around someone they don’t like, they aren’t all that populist after all.
Ed Snyder on February 14, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Oh, I’m sorry… I’ll try to change.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/11/21/romney_health_care_individual_mandate_is_a_conservative_concept.html
Romney: Health Care Individual Mandate Is A “Conservative Concept”
http://thenewamerican.com/opinion/thomas-sowell/10788-romney-index-minimum-wage-to-inflation
Romney: Index Minimum Wage to Inflation
http://www.issues2000.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Gun_Control.htm
And if there is determined to be, from time to time, a weapon of such lethality that it poses a grave risk to our law enforcement personnel, that’s something I would consider signing [a ban against].
… So we’ll only ban guns that could kill a police officer… not the safe guns that can’t possibly kill anyone?
http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-04/news/29685848_1_global-warming-climate-change-greenhouse-gases
“I believe the world’s getting warmer. … I believe that humans contribute to that … so I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you’re seeing.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGMo1e–_Co
The Banking/Financial bailout; where we decided businesses don’t have to fail if they make a bad risky call. That’s “The Right thing to do”.
“I don’t call it a bailout. I call it a rescue plan.”
… Yeah, that makes using Federal money to support a failing company with a poor business plan based on risky strategies a good thing. Change the name of what you’re doing.
…
When you’re relying on support from Conservatives; maybe not taking opposite positions of a half dozen major polity topics from them would be a good plan?
I mean sure it worked for Obama; but he wasn’t trying to get Conservatives to vote for him. And as far as I can tell, neither was Romney.
gekkobear on February 14, 2012 at 4:37 PM
I don’t know if I’d call him a RINO but compassionate conservative can be expensive.
Cindy Munford on February 14, 2012 at 4:37 PM
He wasn’t fiscally conservative enough for me, but to call him a RINO is just dumb. The guy was more conservative than Reagan in some areas. (judges, taxes, social issues specifically)
therightwinger on February 14, 2012 at 4:37 PM
He cut taxes too.
And the conservative justices only got appointed after a proto-Tea Party revolt so I don’t really consider that an accomplishment of his.
Mostly, he just spent a lot of money.
Doomberg on February 14, 2012 at 4:38 PM
i think her not running was one of the biggest mistakes she has made. esp using 20/20 hindsight. But I thought it at the time also. Her reception at CPAC was amazing and for not having her in the race I lay the blame squarely wher eit belongs Mitt and the establishment.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Dire, come clean–is True_King your sockpuppet?
Kataklysmic on February 14, 2012 at 4:39 PM
That’s what the”right”winger wants.
MeatHeadinCA on February 14, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Maybe the elite should stop putting their weight behind losers that the base won’t support?
andycanuck on February 14, 2012 at 4:40 PM
nope mitt’s actions have done that all by themselves. By the nomination if Mitt gets it Obama woon’;t even have to release any negative ads. He will run a positive campaign and try to attract conservatives.
unseen on February 14, 2012 at 4:40 PM
For the rest of the party to figure out that she was the best candidate, they first had to notice the void she left. I think in the long run, not running this year will prove to have been a good choice on her part.
steebo77 on February 14, 2012 at 4:41 PM
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