Santorum: I’d be open to a 2016 run
“I’m open to it, yeah,” Santorum replied. “I think there’s a fight right now as to what the soul of the Republican party’s going to be and the conservative movement, and we have something to say about that. I think from our battle, we’re not going to leave the field.”
… The nomination eventually went to Mitt Romney, whom Santorum argued did not focus on what he considered the “main issue” of the race: The role of government in the lives of Americans.
“We didn’t make that argument in this race. Our candidate didn’t make that argument, as some of us said during the campaign, because he was not capable of making that argument,” Santorum said. “In my opinion, what could have been and what should have been a referendum election on what it means to be an American, what it means for us as a country to head down the road toward European socialism, we just simply didn’t make the argument at a time when I think America was ripe to hear the argument.”
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Please go away Santorum.
Defenestratus on November 27, 2012 at 8:02 AM
Ummm no
New blood needed
cmsinaz on November 27, 2012 at 8:03 AM
As a liberal, I really, truly hope that the answer the republican party finds is “You know, maybe we weren’t crazy enough..”
triple on November 27, 2012 at 8:04 AM
So Gingrich wants to run again, and now Santorum. Isn’t it about time for Herman Cain to announce his run too?
First, I was a Santorum supporter. I like Santorum. But, please, let’s not repeat our candidates next time. We’ve got an amazing bench of up-and-coming talent. Let’s use them.
Second, please let’s stop talking about the 2016 election. The folks who were elected this time around haven’t even been sworn in yet. And then we have a midterm election to focus on. Not to mention actually governing the country over the next couple of years. There’s plenty of time to worry about who is going to run for president in 2016 later. Let’s not do it now.
Shump on November 27, 2012 at 8:06 AM
Thanks, but no thanks.
Foxhound on November 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM
I cannot stand Rick Santorum. The man comes off like a whiny, petulant sourpuss. Rick Santorum is totally unelectable, unlikable and a backstabbing loser.
GET LOST, RICK SANTORUM!
Santorum has also often struck me as kind of a bigot.
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Just unliked him on facebook. Enough.
ctmom on November 27, 2012 at 8:11 AM
HAW HAW HAW HAW, oh it’s so good to laugh at 5:10AM PST.
Jeddite on November 27, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Another one who couldn’t be elected mayor in his home state who magically will leap to the Presidency of the United States. Hint to the wise: if you’re currently NOT WORKING, GET LOST.
Marcus on November 27, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Not only does he represent everything the typical voter apparently sees wrong with Republicans, Santorum is absolutely deluded about his own appeal and public perception.
Go away. You’re part of the problem.
jr.ewing.78 on November 27, 2012 at 8:13 AM
Trip down memory lane for some of Santorum’s greatest hits:
Is this the kind of guy we want to have represent us? No thank you.
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does.”
-Rick Santorum defending government bans on private, consensual homosexual activity between adults.
“One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. [Sex] is supposed to be within marriage. It’s supposed to be for purposes that are yes, conjugal…but also procreative. That’s the perfect way that a sexual union should happen…This is special and it needs to be seen as special.”
-Rick Santorum
“The state has a right to do that, I have never questioned that the state has a right to do that. It is not a constitutional right, the state has the right to pass whatever statutes they have.”
-Anti-birth control Rick Santorum, happily asserting that states can ban birth control
“The idea is that the state doesn’t have rights to limit individuals’ wants and passions. I disagree with that. I think we absolutely have rights because there are consequences to letting people live out whatever wants or passions they desire.”
-Rick Santorum
Santorum Quote:
“This idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do,” Santorum complained to NPR in 2006, “that we shouldn’t get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn’t get involved in cultural issues … that is not how traditional conservatives view the world.”
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Mr Sweater vest is just another big government anti individual moron.
MoreLiberty on November 27, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Santorum doesn’t realize that the only likely reason he was in the race so long was that Romney donors were keeping it a three-way race to prevent a Mitt-Newt standoff.
The Powers that Be do not want two man race for the GOP nomination in which two wings of the party face off. Conservatives are more active in primaries than RINOs.
Wethal on November 27, 2012 at 8:18 AM
Go get a job Santorum – try building a resume.
jake-the-goose on November 27, 2012 at 8:19 AM
Santorum was merely the last not-Romney standing. This is not a recommendation for 2016. And again, let me emphasize that it is a bad idea to get behind ANYONE this early. Romney was the triumph of better organization over taking into account the change that has taken place since the election before. And we saw how that turned out.
Sekhmet on November 27, 2012 at 8:24 AM
And the insanity continues. First it was Jebbie Booooosh, and now Santorum. Can’t we get some good news, at least once in a while? Pretty, pretty please? Hmm….more likely another couple of GOP senators might cave today. Its a bad omen.
tommy71 on November 27, 2012 at 8:25 AM
Didn’t Santorum lose reelection by almost 20 points?
The guy is as unelectable as they come.
Santorum, with his theocratic and anti-liberty leanings, is not the kind of candidate we want as the face of the Republican Party. Please, anyone but him.
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:26 AM
No. No. A thousand times, no.
Good Lt on November 27, 2012 at 8:28 AM
VIDEO: Rick Santorum on his opposition to the Tea Party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLQnoVpkyqc&sns=em
Anyone feeling inspired yet? I will take a pass on Rick Santorum, thank you
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:32 AM
Why does Rick Santorum have such a burning hatred for Libertarians?
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:35 AM
Because they’re not open to making the notion that the government is to be an instrument of the church.
Good Lt on November 27, 2012 at 8:36 AM
Were I Peter Potamus, I’d be winding up to do a ‘Hippo Hurricane Holler’ about now.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 27, 2012 at 8:39 AM
Hah!- But wasn’t Rickie the Hot Air, “not Romney”, go to guy? Didn’t he receive the Hot Air endorsement? Do they still think they were right… that the electorate was calling out for MORE social conservatives?
rhombus on November 27, 2012 at 8:41 AM
I say if Santorum wants to run he should go for it..
Dire Straits on November 27, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Yeah, and that surprised me. Ed Morrissey and Tina Korbe were both pulling for Santorum. Ed posted a thoughtful endorsement, where also explained his various disagreements with Santorum. I respect Ed for always being honest.
A lot of the commenters here, who had jumped from Rick Perry to Herman Cain and then to Newt and Santorum were hysterical in their Romney-bashing ways. It was terrible. These people ridiculously started referring to Santorum as some kind of “true conservative.” For a time anyone who supported Romney on here would be roundly mocked and shouted down.
I just think we can do a lot better than someone like Rick Santorum.
bluegill on November 27, 2012 at 8:54 AM
GET LOST YOU FUNDIE MORON!
If the Republican party nominates him in ’16, I will vote Democrat for the first time in my life purely as a one-finger salute to the GOP.
MelonCollie on November 27, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Oh yes, and good show on bluegill for the mountain of evidence against him on a political basis.
MelonCollie on November 27, 2012 at 9:01 AM
I don’t like Santorum because I think he is a big government conservative and I am a small government guy. However, I was prepared to support him in the Texas primary because I liked Mitt even less. He dropped out the week before due to lack of funds.
If he couldn’t find money this year, how the hell is he going to find money in 2016?
Give it up, Rick. Your time has passed.
Odysseus on November 27, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Rick, join the huckster on the “I’ll go back to voting Libertarian before I vote for you” bench.
You are a nanny-stater.
rbj on November 27, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Looks like it will be a no-vote for me. Hooray!
Good Lt on November 27, 2012 at 9:16 AM
I like Rick, but he’s incredibly polarizing, and not what this country needs. Next!
Ward Cleaver on November 27, 2012 at 9:16 AM
lolz.. Rick obviously didn’t listen to Mitt’s stump speeches… if he did, how could he possibly make this statement? It is literally a rephrase of Mitt’s argument re: Europe, being an American, and on and on.
gatorboy on November 27, 2012 at 9:27 AM
No thanks, Rick. You did well in your last run, certainly surpassing the virtually nonexistent expectations of your candidacy, but it’s time for some new blood. And:
Is America ‘ripe’ to hear that argument? And, if so, would we necessarily win that? My gut feeling is that more and more Americans have no problem with us becoming more like Europe. All they’ll see is the possibility of more stuff, and robbing the rich to pay for it…clearly, a majority in this country already have no problem with that.
changer1701 on November 27, 2012 at 9:29 AM
God, this guy is pitiful. I actually want to win next cycle. So Ricky, explain to me again how you lost your re-election to the senate in 2006 by 20 points makes you a viable canidate for president.
Danielvito on November 27, 2012 at 9:32 AM
I can’t blame you. If inSanitorum really runs I’ll vote his (D) counterpart and no-vote on the rest. With Ron Paul out there’s not even a viable 3rd party; the Constitution Party is a joke.
MelonCollie on November 27, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Santorum may run in 4 years? OBAMA 2016! /s
moo on November 27, 2012 at 9:47 AM
Me too.
Me too. Let it burn.
Washington Nearsider on November 27, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Do want.
Mr. Prodigy on November 27, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Because socialism and the government should be a permanent fixture in your bedroom. WHO’S WITH ME?
Good Lt on November 27, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Dude. You weren’t even better than Romney. Pretty low bar there.
besser tot als rot on November 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Say what you want about Santorum, but if they seriously push Jeb Bush then Santorum becomes a viable candidate.
Rocks on November 27, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Bull. If they seriously push Jeb they’re even stupider than I thought, and the only way Santy-clause is a viable candidate is if all the others died.
MelonCollie on November 27, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Yes. And next time, how about we choose someone who can actually carry their state?
cptacek on November 27, 2012 at 10:42 AM