Subscribe
RSS
Mobile
Call it wishful thinking. Call it expecting the campaigns to honor what the American people have been demanding for several election cycles. Call it what you will, but I admit, I am one of the life-long Conservatives and Republicans who finds the attack ad blitz being perpetrated by our GOP presidential candidates against one another over-the top and, quite frankly, embarrassing. It is one thing to illuminate an opponent’s past record, even his past behavior where it applies to his ability to execute elected office, but it is quite another to engage in the slash-and-burn, win-at-all-cost political tactics of the Progressive Left. We, as Conservatives and as Republicans are better than that...we have to be.
The recent exchanges between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich about lobbying, taxes, who is more Conservative than who, etc., serve as a perfect example of destruction (read: negative) politics. Truth be told, aside from the fact that we now know Newt Gingrich had a rider in his consulting contract with Freddie Mac that prohibited him – or any of his team – from lobbying, and aside from the fact that we now know venture capitalist Mitt Romney is wealthy and pays the least amount of taxes legally possible, what did we learn from any point brought up by either candidate that weighed heavily on the negative?
For the record, being a venture capitalist is not only legal, when done in a responsible manner, i.e. when done successfully so that investors glean profits from companies that are set on the path to prosperity, they create employment opportunities and products that help the Capitalist economic cycle. The last time I checked the United States employed a Capitalist economic system, much to the chagrin of the Progressive Left.
Also for the record, lobbying and political consulting – although well demonized by the politically opportune – serve not only a legitimate purpose, but a vital function within our system of government. True, the art of lobbying should be reformed to exclude the financial manipulation of elected officials, i.e. money, in any form, should never flow from lobbyist to the elected class, but at its core the act of lobbying is simply the act of the petition of government. If not for lobbyists and political consultants – the majority of which are honest advocates for their causes and clients, and who legitimately earn compensation for their expertise and services – we would have no laws on the books that address pollution, child labor laws, work place safety, safety standards for automobiles, aircraft and marine vehicles or the protection of natural resources. In fact, the right to petition government by the private sector is enshrined in the First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (Emphasis mine)
So, Mr. Romney and Mr. Gingrich – and to a lesser extent Mr. Santorum and Mr. Paul – have been trying to smear each other for being things that are not only legal and legitimate, but necessary and proper.
Boy, that seems a bit...stupid, especially for people who claim to be so intelligent.
What each of the Republican candidates has missed, evidently, is that when they stay positive, when they respectfully compare and contrast their records of accomplishment with those of their opponents – without going caustically negative, i.e. saying someone “resigned in disgrace” or that the other is “lying” or a “vulture Capitalist” – their poll numbers go up. In addition to that, when the GOP Primary candidates stay positive, on message and stay focused on the issues – especially when they juxtapose Conservative principles from those employed by Barack Obama and the Progressive Left – they engage in “teachable moments,” where the American people are afforded the opportunity to learn why Conservatism is more appealing than Democratic Socialism.
I could care less if Newt Gingrich was a consultant, lobbyist or shaman for Freddie Mac, especially if everything that was executed was done legally, which by all accounts it was. What I care about is being able to understand how a Gingrich presidency will help to bring about tax reform; or how he will go about working with Congress to repeal Obamacare while righting the wrongs that still exist in the health insurance market regardless of Obamacare. What I care about it being able to understand how his administration’s policies will reform, remove and refine the regulations that keep small businesses from being prosperous and which allow advocacy groups like the not-so-defunct ACORN from forcing financial institutions to follow grossly irresponsible lending practices; practices that provided the nation with a behemoth mortgage crisis that is still the catalyst for our economic woes.
Mr. Gingrich, you’re a professor (and not a fake activist professor, like the one currently inhabiting the Oval Office). Explain these things to the American people; seize the teachable moment to explain to the American people why Capitalism works, why limited government works, why American entrepreneurship is the best in the world when allowed to be free.
Additionally, I could care less if Mr. Romney made a million or a billion dollars as a venture Capitalist, for that matter I don’t care whether he invested in companies or flipped them for a profit, as long as everything was legal and above board. What I do care about is being able to understand how a Romney presidency will go about reforming, revising or eliminating unfair trade practices that see the United States at a disadvantage on our shores and around the world; or how a Romney Administration will go about diminishing the influence of labor unions in both the public and private sectors, entities whose time of usefulness has been replaced by enacted legislation and established law. What I care about is being able to understand how a Romney Administration will go about crafting a message to the world that indicates that while the United States should be considered a trusted ally to those who honor our relationship, we are not the world’s ATM nor are we the world’s 911 center.
Mr. Romney, seize the teachable moment. Abandon the negative campaigning and explain to the American people why Capitalism is good; why venture Capitalism serves a great purpose; and why redistribution of wealth only creates a non-motivated society that eventually devolves into the Atlas Shrugged storyline.
Is there a place in honest, positive, above board politicking for examining an opponent’s record? You bet. The honest comparing and contrasting of one’s record against those of his or her opponents is not only legitimate, it is absolutely necessary. People – Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and even those who believe they are Progressives – need to know the differences between the candidates and the bona fides, accomplishments and failures of each of the candidates. But this can be done – can be done – in a civil manner; in a manner devoid of the gutter political tactics of Saul Alinsky, David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett, David Plouffe and Barack Obama. To wit, each and every one of the GOP contenders is guilty of such actions and, therefore, should bear the “mark of the beast” – no, not Satan, but a mark designating them as being politically opportune; as placing their own political well-being against the common goal: removing Barack Obama from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
So, the Republican candidates – Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Paul and especially Mr. Romney – need to understand that the American people are thirsty for solutions; for knowledge; for specifics. We are choke-full of attack ads that teach us nothing; that provide no issue-oriented information. Make no mistake; Republicans cannot win a battle of politics against Barack Obama using Alinsky tactics. Mr. Obama taught a class on Saul Alinsky; he lives and breathes Saul Alinsky.
No, the only way to beat Mr. Obama, once the Republican candidate is selected and beginning now – in the primaries, is to “out teach him.” When he plays on emotion and greed, we must educate on why his agenda only enslaves. When he promises economic equality we must educate on why economic equality always ends up with everyone but the elites being on the bottom rung. When he pontificates about social justice we must educate on the superior opportunities of blind justice and justice for all, not just some.
The Progressive Left has captured our education system and we are purposefully less constitutionally and economically literate because of it. They have successfully “dumbed down” going on two generations now, in an effort to create a majority dependent class; a demographic that feels entitled instead of empowered, deserving instead of thankful. If there was ever a time to think “outside of the box” where politicking is concerned, if there was ever a time to embrace the idea of educating the public on the issues before us rather than trying to tear each other down so that we limp into the final battle, this would be the time, gentlemen.
A June 2011 CBS News piece quoted former-Beatle John Lennon as having been Conservative in his last years:
“The singer’s former assistant claims in a new documentary that Lennon was a Ronald Reagan fan and a Conservative at the time of his death...
“‘John, basically, made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on Jimmy Carter,’ [Fred] Seaman reportedly told filmmaker Seth Swirsky.
“‘...but it was pretty obvious to me he had moved away from his earlier radicalism,’ Seaman reportedly said. ‘He was a very different person back in 1979 and ‘80 than he’d been when he wrote ‘Imagine.’ By 1979 he looked back on that guy and was embarrassed by that guy’s naiveté.’”
Borrowing from Mr. Lennon’s musical genius:
Imagine there’s no smearing,
It’s easy if you try,
No negative ads to answer,
Just answers to questions ‘why?’
Imagine all the people,
Learning about the truth.
You may say that I’m a dreamer,
But I’m not the only one,
I hope today you will all join us,
Then the election can be won.
Imagine that...gentlemen.
---
Frank Salvato is the Executive Director for BasicsProject.org. He can be contacted at contact@newmediajournal.us.
January 27, 2012 @ 8:59 am
What I find over the top is the fact that every question posed by the liberal Media Moderator is aimed at getting the Republican nominee to defend himself and HIS record versus the real problem which is to define Obama and HIS failed record. Not one question by the Wolf Blitz Krieg upon the Republican Candidates mentioned the word Obama or one of his policies. After about the fourth occurance the four cabdidates on stage should have looked at each other, then in unison agreed to answer no more questions unless they compared their position to that of the current failed President’s rather than being forced to attack each other. I don’t blame any candidate for defending himself from attack, nor should any candidate fear to speak the ugly truths in his defense and let the cards fall upon who they are dealt.
The Republican primaries are a vetting process like boot camp and “We The People” are the drill sergeants who get in their face to challenge their weaknesses and their strength to have them drop down and see if they can do fifty pushups and survive the practice obstacle course they will soon face from the REAL Democrat enemy who will be using REAL verbal barbs and BULLETS. Let those who ride bikes go back home in peace.
Challenging any candidate’s weaknesses in primary debate actually serves the candidate and makes him stronger in his current areas of weakness to defend himself and defend us for the coming battle. Gingrich in particular should be grateful that Santorum and Romney finally grew some stones to challenge him as the process will harden him as well. It’s time the American voters ignored the wimpy Clintonian “I FEEL YOUR PAIN” pandering and grow some stones of their own for when it comes to voting it is;
“Let He who is without stones, cast the first vote for sin”
January 27, 2012 @ 10:29 am
I respectfully disagree with Mr. Salvato. I want to know if someone will turn around and denounce that which they once advocated — for a price. In fact, I am very uncomfortable with any former elected official being a paid lobbyist for anything, whether or not they sincerely believe in the cause. And now Gingrich wants us to believe he wasn’t advocating for Fannie and Freddie, despite buying their stock. I also want to know if someone is a ‘vulture capitalist’ because that tells me about their personality, their character. For another example, I want to know when Gingrich claims to have supported Goldwater, he was actually a chair for Rockefeller. That tells me he’ll say whatever he thinks will work in the moment. Maybe I’m the only one, but I want to know these things.
My complaint is that we’re not hearing these things about Paul and Santorum. I think we need to know what will be coming up in the general election to help us make a more informed choice in the primary. Also, if someone has a history of lying about their true motives or a history of being for sale to the highest bidder, how can we trust them to actually implement their stated plans to resolve the issues of the day once elected?
I stongly agree with you, Illuminato, that now is the time to compare and contrast the candidates. There will be a lot of comparing records with Obama in the general election. There’s also the conventional wisdom that airing these issues now sort of innoculates the candidates, making the revelations old news by the time of the general election.
JMO - Just my opinion.
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:14 pm
This whole nonsense of either Newt of Romney owning Fannie May Stock indirectly through a money market fund was inappropriate and is ridiculous. It is a pandering manufactured none issue for both candidates who if they held on to this bad investment saw their stock drop from $65 per share in 2007 down to the current value of 22 cents per share which is always what happens when the government gets involved in a private enterprise, engages in foolish social experiments then asks the American tax payer to pay the cost of their failed Liberal socialist progressive experiments.
Believe me, as a private investor I can assure you neither candidate would brag about investing in this boondoggle.
The cogent question at hand is who had the insider connections and information to bale out of his stock before the collapse making money, and who stayed and took a loss which is always the American tax payer.
Just when did Newt and Romney sell out and who tipped them off. This would reveal volumes of which candidate is fit to be our President. The one who grabbed the profit and stuck the taxpayer with the bill, or the one who got stuck just as bad as everyone else who bought it and got stuck not having the insider information?
Not vetting, not smearing, just honest journalism for a change.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:08 am
I completely agree. Look Obama was down in the polls until all this mud-slinging by the republican candidates. The way they are at the debates and campaigning, I wonder if any of them would be better than O. The only thing they should be campaigning on is how they would do it better than O and that wouldn’t be too hard. I will give one thing to Newt though in the beginning is that he said that no republican should go negative on another republican and then he was hammered at the first debate and then he came out swinging. So much garbage is thrown out that even Ron Paul is looking good.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:42 am
I am not a Ron Paul fan but you are right. I am sure the liberal media isn’t helping to keep the Republicans on track but is encouraging the campaign fued. I am sure 0 and his cronies are having a great time with the childish behavior of two or our candidates. Also, I am sure those who are watching the debates are getting tired of the fighting and they need to move on to more important issues regarding our Nation and the downward spiral to socialism. We need someone who will build up our country and encourage us. At this point in time only God can help this Nation only if people will turn back to Him and apply His Word to their lives. The following cannot keep being ignored…
II Peter 3:8… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
Jer 17:5 Thus says the LORD,” Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD
January 27, 2012 @ 10:13 am
I said, on these pages, before the campaign even began that I hoped the candidates would focus on their plans to undo the damage Obama has done to this nation, and not waste our time telling us why the “other guy” was not a good choice. I also said I did not expect that to happen. Come on, candidates, we can figure out for ourselves what we like and don’t like about each of you–if you’ll just do us the courtesy of telling us what the hell you plan to do if elected. We’re not stupid, we can think for ourselves. Quit the destructive bickering and name calling and give us a choice.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:32 am
I doubt if it will ever happen as civil discourse seems to be a thing of the past. Chew them up and spit them out is their strategy, and in my opinion, they all do a great job in that department. How well any of them will do as president leaves a lot to the imagination.
January 28, 2012 @ 10:28 am
Agreed. And, Frank—superb article—I hope you will send a copy to Mr Romney and Mr Gingrich—in fact, I encourage all posters to this forum to do so—I’m going to do so.
When one candidate starts this nonsense, then the other should turn to him and make it clear that he is not going to step into the mud pit to tear down another candidate, embarras the Conservative Party, provide entertainment for the Liberal Party, and alienate the voting public—but, instead, is going to address the issues and answer the concerns of the American people and provide a detailed plan of action that will exemplify his intelligence, recognition of what is and what is not important, and leadership capability.
These “coaches” that Mr Romney has employed to teach him how to stir the pot and add fuel to the fire are nothing more than problems to the solution. They need to find more productive work. One of the best ways to counter this worthless indulgence is for the American people to send a clear message via the polls and caucusses. Let Mr Romney wallow in his own mud—and may the other candidates take note.
January 28, 2012 @ 1:51 pm
And the last time we folowedd your advice who did we get,,,,John Milqetoast McCain,the fellow Obama Senator if Senatorial comity who gave us the Obama Senatorof comedy,,,,,Senator John McCain the crash and burned out shot down warrior who refused to attack Obama and expose him before the election. We need fighters not compromisers.
January 28, 2012 @ 3:05 pm
The ‘no-mudslinging’ ideal only works when all are bound to follow it. Unfortunately for those who are so offended by it, that is not going to happen. Make no mistake, there will be plenty of personal attacks and mudslinging in the general, funded by an estimated billion dollars. I’d rather these things come up now, before being brought up in October by the democrats.
Frankly, I’d rather know these things before I decide to support a candidate. It matters to me that Gingrich is the kind of person that could not only cheat on his wives, but leave two of them while they were dealing with a serious health crisis; Jackie, uterine cancer; and Marianne, multiple scelerosis. (I wonder if Calista would tell Newt if she were to have a similar ailment?) There are a lot of things that would fall under the heading of ‘personal attacks’ that matter to me.
I also agree with Inluminatuo: Look how well that no-personal-attacks position worked out for McCain.
Imagine Ayers and Rev. Wright ads
It’s easy if you try
No way to explain it
O’s whole life a lie
Imagine all the people
Learning in the day…
Imagine 20 years of sermons
Chickens coming home to roost
Weather Underground not going far enough
Attending foreign schools
Imagine all the people
knowing that at least…
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
If McCain had put out those attack ads
Maybe Obama wouldn’t have won
Imagine demanding college records
I wonder if you can
Michelle finally being proud of her country
Her husband’s biggest fan
Imagine all the people
Seeing the Chicago world…
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
So the 2012 Election can be won
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:23 am
Let’s hope someone in each of these campaigns read this article and bring it to the attention of Romney and Gingrich. I sent a e-mail to Romney and Gingrich to stop the stupid attacks on each other and concentrate on Obama. They look silly and juvenile most of the time. I agree it is embarrassing to watch these people fighting like sixth graders.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:56 am
I didn’t read the entire article, I have to confess. But I have to agree with Mr. Salvato. To me, they need to spend a whole lot more time talking about the issues important to the people, presenting their ideas to fix things in the process.
However, I don’t think this ugly campaign sniping is restricted just to the Republicans. I think the whole bunch of them are like a pack of jackals preying on everyone and everything. They turn on one at a time until they turn the whole thing into making each other look like criminals everyone should be ashamed to even think about voting for.
Quite frankly, I actually remember many of the ugly things that are said about people. Then, when those same faces show up again when election time rolls around, it astounds me! There are people I have not liked for years! Yet they turn up every time there’s an election.
I desest this practice and I have detested it for a long time. Less finger pointing, bickering, and bullying –and more common sense strategies to fix the problems, please! That is the only way to figure out who we should vote for and stop making every election process a choice between the lesser of two evils.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:01 am
I’m replying to my own comment because I forgot to click to be notified of further discussion
Sorry.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:00 am
I have to respectfully disagree with Mr Salvato. I have watched Newt start out with a positive campaign, when he started to gain ground, all the candidates came out with their mud-buckets and began slinging. Newt sank in the polls and guess what?….Newt filled his bucket and began his negative campaigning on the barely navigable muddy and trashed campaign trail. It worked and up he went and won South Carolina. I hate to be a cynic, but after my beloved country elected a lying, bullshatting, sham like Obama, who won his post with one of the most miserable campaigns in history; I just don’t know my fellow citizens are anymore.
I disliked most of the tiresome rhetoric that filled last nights debate (CNN debate 1/26/12) and evidently so did the audience. Somehow that small audience in attendance does not represent the mainstream pollsters who determine the outcome of the electoral contest. So I guess I remain a cynic.
One other thing I have noticed and I wish Fox News would remove him as a campaign pundit is Carl Cameron. As I watch him give his account of the political proceedings of the hour, he is almost drooling over the muck and trashiness of the campaign components. I remember how anxious he was to lick-up the drivel coming out of the GOP tent concerning Sarah Palin and the McCain opertives. His eyes simply gleen and his wry, deceiving smile so innocently delievers the grime of the day. He is but one that loves to smear and carry the water for the devilment. There are many others on the MSM, but I guess I expect better from Fox News.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments re: Carl Cameron. I am becoming more and more disappointed with Fox News as the days pass…even Brit Hume has lost his favorable status in my mind.
The media seems hellbent on showing each and every candidate as a mud wrestler for the world to see. What I want to know is how exactly we are supposed to later respect the winner of all of these muck-raking primary elections. I liked Newt much better when he said, early on, that they should focus on the issues, NOT personal attacks. Too bad he failed to take his own advice. Since he is personally attacking his fellow Republican candidates, I am losing respect for him with each attack he makes.
CONCENTRATE ON THE ISSUES, GUYS! WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR PLANS TO RIGHT THIS SHIP OF STATE BEFORE IT TOTALLY SUBMERGES!
January 27, 2012 @ 11:05 am
Lets hope all the candidates read this column and the Senators and Congressmen also !
January 27, 2012 @ 11:14 am
That sure would help matters if only they would.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:08 am
And now I did go back and read the entire article and I agree with Mr. Salvato even more than I did before. It is hard to undo petty malicious comments heard by the public as parts of things like debates that are meant to help people become informed. I thought that was the reason there are moderators who ask specific questions. This is not the first time this has happened nor will it be the last. But I wish it were.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:34 pm
You have read my mind! My thoughts posted on an earlier article fit this one perfectly. Please excuse the duplication.
Isn’t it a conservative’s dream to have all future primary seasons framed in a completely different manner!
Who in their right mind would continue to allow LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE people in the media to constantly put forth questions that, no matter how they are answered, will result in ‘egg on the face’ of the individual candidates?????
It’s all about making our Republican candidates look foolish…and they certainly have done that! Become tops in the most recent poll and it’s nothing but ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK – ask questions that are fully intended to destroy the current person at the top of the list. You know I’m right! Michelle – attack her husband’s clinic – Cain – bring out the anonymous scummy ladies – Newt – bring out his ex-wives and/or connections – Mitt – bring out his Bain deals…IT IS DISGUSTING!
We want a president who will bring America back to its former respected position in the world! We want a president who will allow America to become energy independent! We want a president who will put a STOP to Obamacare! We want a president who will DEMAND a BALANCED budget be passed! We want a president who will CUT the government down to size! We want a president who will follow the CONSTITUTION!
LISTEN TO US PLEASE!
January 27, 2012 @ 4:29 pm
Unfortunately in Politics the way to win is like the scene in Cecil B Demille’s 10 Commandments when the Secular Paroah’s fast talking Eqyptian Magicians threw down their staffs and turned them into snakes to attack moses. Moses sent by God then dropped his staff which turned into a bigger snake who turned and ate those of the Egyptians. Sometimes it’s just our political snake against theirs like in the movie. Let’s just hope our snake is sent from God and speaks not with a forked tongue or we will just continue to get bit and Like Cleopatra, another Queen of Denial, can kiss our own Asp goodby.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:47 pm
I think we’ve reached a point where the petty squabbling needs to stop. I am glad that the candidates took the gloves off and went after each other hard to look for weak points and test their opponents. This is necessary, as we don’t want some skeleton in the closet that will come out next Halloween.
But after all this digging and smearing what do we really have. Romney is rich, makes most of his money from capital gains and so only pays 15% in taxes. So what? Good. I’m glad he invests his money wisely and gets good returns. That shows me he still understands the business world. And hopefully if he is is mega-rich he can use his own money to help fight Obama and will be incorruptible once he gets into office.
And what about Gingrich? After he left congress he worked for policy think tanks and consulted for many people including Freddie Mac. That just shows he still has good ideas, understands the key issues of our time, and his knowledge of Washington is valuable. Again, this is a good thing.
I thought maybe last night we’d reached a truce point and we could move on. Romney and Gingrich are very similar in their platforms and beliefs. Their similarities are much greater than their differences. In my mind, the question is only who will do the best job as president. That’s up to the voters to decide.
Any more negative campaigning will only hurt the candidate slinging the mud. Someone needs to tell them all to stop. Why hasn’t someone in the party sat them all down and explained this? Maybe we need someone like Hannity to broker the peace accord. If he threatened to cut them off from his shows unless they stay positive, they may pay attention.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:56 pm
Imagine what could happen if you put Mr. Romney, Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Ron Paul and Mr. Santorum in a room and was told to work it out.
Which one would have the best chance to beat Mr. Incompetent. Because at this rate he’s a shoe in.
We all want the best for the People and the United States, Our Constitution and Bill of Rights put back as it was.
Make the best one President the second one Vice President and third one Sectary of Defense and the last one Sectary of Treasury.
You bring in other Cabinets appointees that would be better for our Lives. All Americans.
Don’t waste any more time and money slinging defecation.
They all have something that (We The People Need).
January 27, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
hardheaded – your comment contains far too much COMMON SENSE for the political class to grasp!
In any case, the mud-slinging MUST STOP!
January 27, 2012 @ 3:22 pm
Thank you , I’m so glad to see there is some intelligent still out there.
I thought that might be too much to expect.
January 27, 2012 @ 5:10 pm
I care about Mitten’s venture capitalist past. It’s these very entities that push companies to purse the bottom line at the expense of the employee, in pursuit of the bottom line, these venture capitalists push companies to find ways to cut cost, i.e. move them overseas for cheaper labor. This is the direction he will push the country, give all our jobs to China, make the US into a low-paying service industry economy. His venture capitalist past also shows his interests align with Wall Street and not Main Street.
Perry had it right when he called them vultures!
January 28, 2012 @ 3:37 pm
So you’re against capitalism and the free markets; and against all those, including retirees, pension funds, etc. that have stock in those companies and depend on a return from their investments? You’re against making American companies efficient and competitive? Wall Street and Main Street are opposing forces? C’mon… tell the truth here… are you ‘Occupying’ GOPUSA?
January 28, 2012 @ 7:56 pm
I’ve been reading the comments and although I see the validity in finding things out now rather than later, I disagree that there was no stench unearthed before the obama election because there was plenty. The press just disregarded it because they wanted obama in there. Period! And the things that were dug up about him were legitimate issues and matters for concern. Whether or not someone is a capitalist in a capitalist nation, whether or not someone kissed the behinds of their ex-wives and that kind of stuff really has no bearing and I can’t help but feel like only the ugly parts of the story are being conveyed. Not the balancing parts that make it all more everyday. When all the people distrust all the candidate because they are so vicious to one another, there is something very wrong with the whole election process. There is not one person out there who someone can’t find something ugly to say about. And I honestly believe that this practice of out and out meanness is one reason why we never have decent candidates who could do a good job and set things back to right, not only in the White House but in Congress.
January 28, 2012 @ 8:11 pm
We certainly shouldn’t have to ponder very long as to the reason most Americans shun going through this public Chinese torture treatment.
It is a sad day for America when vicious personal attacks are the only way one believes they can prove ‘they’ are better than the next guy/gal. I’d much prefer hearing positive reasons for why you are the BEST candidate!
They have definitely turned us off…no votes for either attacker from this household!
RICK SANTORUM has proven to be the grown-up of the bunch and he will receive our two votes!
January 29, 2012 @ 9:12 am
I too will vote for Santorum in the Florida primary, but I have no illusions about him being the candidate. I just think a primary, unlike a general election, is the place for a protest vote. It says “I don’t like either of the leading candidates, and I want them to know this.” The general election is another thing, because voting for someone who won’t win is voting for Obama. I hope Paul sticks to his claim he won’t run as a third-party candidate, for just that reason. I remember all too well what happened with Perot.
January 29, 2012 @ 1:38 pm
I, too, have ‘voter’s remorse’ for the Perot candidacy. Even that far back, many Americans were trying to express our disappointment with the Republican establishment, we just hadn’t gathered together as a Tea Party movement to consolidate our message. As Rush keeps warning everyone, a third party candidate will guarantee Obama’s re-election.
The sad news is there is a strong third party campaign going on (without, of course, any mention in the media) where they are registering an unknown candidate in every state. One of the main instigators of the group is a former Deval Patrick aide – who learned all too well in the last MA election that putting up a former Dem who conveniently changed his political affiliation to Independent prior to the election brought another term to a governor (a Chicago friend of BHO) who would have lost bigtime without the help of that straw man. The only good thing to come of it is so far is reading that things have not turned out well for the straw man, Tim Cahill. We have no way of knowing if he was personally rewarded, but his public service has definitely had a downward swing.
January 28, 2012 @ 9:13 pm
if santorum even gets to run. Remember, last go around all the good candidates bailed before the primary hardly got started.
January 28, 2012 @ 11:04 pm
Another good reason to change the primary election process!
I’m sick of having one or two states – along with a BIASED media – determine who our candidates are!
With easy access to the internet, we should be able to hold a nationwide primary…same day – 24 hours – with NO media interference with ‘exit polling’ manipulations!
And NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN have so many debates, with BIASED so-called moderators!
January 29, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
Cape Conservative, I’m afraid you’ve misinterpreted my note. I did not vote for Perot, I’m just pointing out that I remember the consequences of his candidacy.
January 29, 2012 @ 3:06 pm
Sorry – should have left out the ‘too’ in my comment. I was simply sharing the thought of how destructive a third party is to the voting process.
Pingback: February News & Committee Reports « FORT WORTH REPUBLICAN WOMEN