The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Romney Leads by 21 Points in S.C.?

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 89 Comments

Carolina RINOs?

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has opened a wide lead over his rivals in the South Carolina primary election race, trouncing Newt Gingrich and gaining momentum in his march toward the party’s nomination, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows. . . .
The poll showed 37 percent of South Carolina Republican voters back Romney. Congressman Ron Paul and former Senator Rick Santorum tied for second place with 16 percent support.
Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, has fallen far back after holding a strong lead in South Carolina in December. He was in fourth place at 12 percent in the Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Do not despair, conservatives! There is good news here, too:

After Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry placed next in the Reuters/Ipsos poll with 6 percent support. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who was third in the New Hampshire primary, came in the lowest in the South Carolina poll with 3 percent support.

Perry and Huntsman have less than 10 percent between them and if they finish that low, they’re finished. Subtract them from the field, and there’s that much less distraction going into Florida. And still more good news:

At a forum hosted by Mike Huckabee with 800 undecided South Carolina Republicans, Newt Gingrich was loudly booed when he criticized Mitt Romney’s record at Bain Capital, according to a Republican who attended the closed-press event.

To quote Allahpundit: “Oh my.”

If Newt’s getting booed, so that his fade continues, that benefits . . .?

Yeah: Rick Santorum, fresh off his endorsement by the social conservative conclave. There are two debates this week — Monday on Fox and Thursday on CNN — and therefore a chance that Romney can say something stupid enough to cost him 10 points. And never underestimate the sweater vest. There is still hope to stop Romney, and therefore . . .

Exit Question: Why is it that so many conservatives who have said their top priority is to stop Romney at all costs don’t support Rick Santorum?

Update (Smitty): linked by Surber.

Category: Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Polls, Rick Santorum, South Carolina

A Note On Raaaaacism

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 16 Comments

by Smitty

Legal Insurrection has a chilling video about raaaaacism and a prominent GOP candidate, of whom I’m not fan.

One of the fascinating general questions about political leadership, and cutting across a variety of issues and candidates, is the notion of repentance. Mitt, in the linked clip, is all but called a raaaaacist. Ron Paul feels that heat too, both of incidents decades in the past.

Part of Progressive propaganda is to fool around with time. Mormonism had a discriminatory past; therefore Mitt is a raaaaacist. Paul had these raaaaacist newsletters. I live in Virginia, which held the capitol of the Confederacy; by this logic, I must be a raaaaacist.

We need to demand more analysis from the finger pointers. New rule: if you’re going to develop a claim that Romney is a raaaaacist, you have to carry it forward through his career at Bain, his tenure as Governor of the People’s Republic of Massachusetts, and his campaign. Is there even shred one of an indication of disdain for anyone based upon heritage?

And Ron Paul delivered a lot of babies. Did he feel less joy in his heart bringing minority life into this world? Or was all life just, you know, life to the guy?

I’m actually an Oregonian by birth, and a Virginian for the last decade. And I’m no raaaaacist, but I sure am developing a strong bias against those who spout accusation with neither proof nor motive, save destruction. May God have mercy on your lying, demonic souls, and bring you to repentance.

Category: Racism

Sullivan’s Gut Is Also Confused

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 19 Comments

by Smitty

Sullivan’s Daily Ditch isn’t of much interest, but one must correct a mis-perception here:

The big surprise for me in this is Ron Paul’s remarkable strength in South Carolina. My gut tells me it’s driven by military types, who share the view of many active duty soldiers that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were idiotic. But the evangelical machers’ embrace of Santorum could now help Romney. If it halts Santorum’s slide, it may also halt Gingrich’s and Paul’s rise, allowing Romney to claim a bigger victory.

Ron Paul’s strength is rooted in economic interests. I don’t doubt that there are substantial peacenicks among his supporters, but to venture the notion that the SC military residents have gone all Jimmy Carter is to forget where the U.S. Civil War began.

As for the rest of the incoherent analysis about halting Santorum’s slide and the rise of Gingrich and Paul, the World’s Youngest Blogger replied in his diaper, and I must tend to the WYB’s analysis. I recommend you have a go at siring and raising a child, Andrew: it has a wonderful clarifying effect on on thought.

via The Moderate Voice

Category: Andrew Sullivan

This Vintage Pin-Up Girl Would Probably Look Better in a Santorum Sweater Vest

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 21 Comments

This post is not merely a timely reminder that you can get your own Rick Santorum sweater vest for a $100 contribution to his campaign — although it can’t hurt to remind you — but also an opportunity to rattle the tip jar as I prepare to head back out on the road.

While I was out on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, conservative theologian Doug Wilson expressed his criticism of “Rule 5,” but I was so busy doing coverage that there was no time to respond. And I guess you can consider this post a response, once again borrowing William Teach of Pirate Cove’s idea of using vintage cheesecake to anchor a link-around aggregation or, as Jimmie Bise Jr. of Sundries Shack calls it, “clearing the browser tabs”:

  • Da Tech Guy is still rattling Da Tip Jar, and I’ve already contributed, so you should go help the Godfather of the Axis of Fedora.
  • When RINOs attack: Mitt Romney’s “super PAC” goes after Rick Santorum. Has anybody else noticed that the Romney campaign hasn’t run a single ad criticizing Ron Paul or Rick Perry? As if they’ve figured out that those guys are irrelevant and pose no threat to Romney, y’know what I mean?
  • Speaking of irrelevant and posing no threat to Romney: “Days after his third place finish in New Hampshire, some Huntsman for President staffers have already left the campaign, while others tell BuzzFeed they wish the former Utah governor would drop out so they could join Mitt Romney’s team.”
  • If you’re a voter who’s still undecided in South Carolina, ask yourself this: Which Republican candidate inspires blasphemy by liberals? “MSNBC’s Alex Wagner is caught muttering ‘Jesus’ under her breath as a clip of Rick Santorum talking about classes in America plays.”
  • Bill Quick is still convinced Newt can beat Romney. However, I find it hard to imagine Republicans rallying behind the candidate who dumped two ex-wives and collected more than $1 million from Freddie Mac. The way this primary campaign is being waged in the blogosphere is kind of like trash-talking the opponent in SEC football, and it’s best not to take these things personally. At least Bill links my blog, which counts for something.
  • Being compared to a teenage girl on Prom Night? Not exactly flattering, but at least Andrew links my blog, which counts for something.
  • What’s the most interesting thing in this story? “Rick Santorum delivered a stark warning to South Carolina voters Saturday, telling them Mitt Romney is a sure loser in November if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee. ‘Don’t buy all this baloney that we need a moderate to win,’ Santorum told about 200 people gathered at Tommy’s Country Ham House in Greenville. ‘We need someone with strong core convictions who is going to appeal to the voters in the states we need to win and that’s not him. That’s us.'” The most interesting thing: 200 people at a Greenville restaurant on a Saturday. The word to describe that is “surge.”
  • Santorum endorsed by vintage pin-up girl Christian conservative leaders: “Family Research Council president Tony Perkins announced Saturday a meeting of Christian conservative leaders had decided to coalesce around GOP hopeful Rick Santorum. The group heard pitches from surrogates for Republican candidates Friday, and voted to back Santorum after three rounds of voting.”
  • The Lonely Conservative: “I guess the moral of this story is that Republican primary candidates should not adopt the rhetoric of the left.” Another moral of the story: When in doubt, go with the sweater vest.
  • Tony Perkins said he “was surprised that the group was able to coalesce around one candidate,” and credited their surprising unity to the sweater vest “desire to defeat President Obama.”
  • Guess which candidate the Christian conservatives rejected? “Rick Perry didn’t even make it past the first ballot, Perkins said. . . . Gingrich had passionate supporters, even on the final ballot, but [Perkins] suggested the group had doubts about Perry’s electability. ‘There was some concern because of the stumbles he had in the race may be too hard to overcome,’ said Perkins of the Texan, noting that many of the same participants this weekend had attended a similar conclave on Perry’s behalf this past summer.”
  • Tina Korbe’s probably already got her official Santorum sweater vest.

So that’s the link-around, which will have to do for now, because I’ve got to get ready to drive — yes, I said, drive — to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where Rick Santorum will speak at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast.

It looks like about a nine-hour drive and I’ll be bringing along my 13-year-old son Jefferson as an assistant, because covering a presidential campaign is an excellent educational opportunity for an eighth-grader.

My wife’s a little worried about us driving all the way to South Carolina, but I’ve promised her I’ll keep our son away from pin-up girls.

Besides, Jefferson only likes nice girls, the kind who wear sweater vests. And hit the freaking tip jar.





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Category: Rick Santorum, Rule 5, Shoe Leather Fund, South Carolina

Next, Newt Gingrich Will Probably Mail Order a Pair of Acme Rocket Skates

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 20 Comments

Like Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner, Newt’s Bain attack on Mitt Romney has backfired, actually increasing Mitt’s popularity with conservatives.

Everybody will tune in for Monday night’s Fox News debate waiting to see if an anvil falls on Newt’s head. (Hat-tip: Instapundit.)

Category: Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich

The Duke

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 12 Comments

by Smitty

Slightly rough language here. This sounds like excerpts from a larger interview. Does anyone know the context?

Category: Uncategorized

Guess I Might Be Joining Drach

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | Comments Off on Guess I Might Be Joining Drach

by Smitty

Who must also be a Virginian. I thought that Perry’s lawsuit was a trifle *cough*Progressive*cough* in its general character, for all more primary ballot choice would be welcome. What a crazy. . .train. I mean, crazy like some pre-pubescent Japanese kid rocking out with Ozzy crazy:

Category: Virginia

Santorum’s South Carolina Surge: Announces More Endorsements, Campaign Schedule for Weekend

Posted on | January 14, 2012 | 12 Comments

Lots of news today for the Rick Santorum campaign, including three endorsements by South Carolina GOP leaders, Stephen Brown, Bill Connor, and Patrick Haddon. Brown had previously endorsed Michele Bachmann, and Haddon switched his endorsement from Rick Perry to Santorum.

The Santorum campaign also announced endorsements by Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage and by pro-life activist Abby Johnson. The campaign released Senator Santorum’s schedule for the three-day weekend, which includes a noon candidate forum with Mike Huckabee today in Charleston, a Sunday “Faith & Freedom” prayer breakfast in Myrtle Beach, and Monday night’s Fox News debate, also in Myrtle Beach:

Saturday, January 14:

8:30am ET: Senator Santorum hosts a “Faith, Family and Freedom” Town Hall in Greenville, SC.
Location: Tommy’s Country Ham House
214 Rutherford Street
Greenville, SC

12:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will participate the “Huckabee Forum: South Carolina Undecided” in Charleston, SC.
Location: College of Charleston
Sottile Theatre
44 George Street
Charleston, SC

3:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will hold a volunteer rally at the Rick Santorum for President South Carolina Headquarters in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Location: Rick Santorum for President South Carolina Headquarters
311 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard
Suite 141
Mt. Pleasant, SC

5:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will address the congregation at the Cathedral of Praise in Charleston, SC.
Location: Cathedral of Praise
3790 Ashley Phosphate Road
Charleston, SC

Sunday, January 15:

9:30am ET: Senator Santorum will address the Faith & Freedom/South Carolina Republican Party prayer breakfast in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Location: Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Grand Ball Room
2101 North Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC

3:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will hold a “Faith, Family and Freedom” Town Hall in Florence, SC.
Location: Percy & Willies
2401 David H. McCloud Boulevard
Florence, SC

Monday, January 16:

9:30am ET: Senator Santorum will appear on the Laura Ingraham Nationally Syndicated Radio Show.

3:05pm ET: Senator Santorum will address the South Carolina Tea Party Convention in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Location: Springmaid Beach Resort
3200 South Ocean Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC

4:15pm ET: Senator Santorum will address the Faith & Freedom Coalition in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Location: Myrtle Beach Convention Center
2101 North Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC

9:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will participate in the FOX News Republican Presidential Debate in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Location: Myrtle Beach Convention Center
2101 North Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC

11:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will appear on “Hannity” on FOX News.

Category: Election 2012, Rick Santorum, South Carolina
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