Santorum drops out.
April 10, 2012 11:45 AM Subscribe
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum abruptly suspended his campaign in a news conference this afternoon, marking the unofficial end to a lengthy, often-combative primary. By suspending his campaign rather than ending it, Santorum can continue to raise money to retire any remaining debt he might have.
“We made a decision over the weekend that, while this presidential race for us is over — for me — and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting.” He has not endorsed, or urged the delegates that he has won to support another candidate.
“We made a decision over the weekend that, while this presidential race for us is over — for me — and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting.” He has not endorsed, or urged the delegates that he has won to support another candidate.
Sideshow over. Now watch the claws really come out.
posted by lalochezia at 11:46 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 11:46 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll this week showed a majority of Republican-leaning Americans — 52 percent — said Santorum should stay in the campaign, while 43 percent said he should drop out.*
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:47 AM on April 10, 2012
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:47 AM on April 10, 2012
As I just asked when my coworkers turned the sound up on CNN: "If we all know that something is going to happen, and then it happens, is that news?"
Then I left to take a shit so I didn't have to hear that disingenuous mannequin talk stupid about The Constitution and disabled children any more.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:48 AM on April 10, 2012 [34 favorites]
Then I left to take a shit so I didn't have to hear that disingenuous mannequin talk stupid about The Constitution and disabled children any more.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:48 AM on April 10, 2012 [34 favorites]
God this has been a weird race. A few months ago I was mocking Rick Santorum as being so pathetic that he was the only GOP wannabe who didn't even get 15 minutes of being not Romney.
And look how that turned out.
posted by Naberius at 11:48 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
And look how that turned out.
posted by Naberius at 11:48 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
So when is the ceremony where they pick Romney up and shake him?
posted by Artw at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [38 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [38 favorites]
I'm guessing his single largest financial backer has backed out.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by jabberjaw at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
This guy scared the life out of me with his resurgence. Now the Santorum has been wiped up once and for all.
posted by malusmoriendumest at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by malusmoriendumest at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
Damn, I was so looking forward to a Santorum vs Obama debate, too...
posted by Old'n'Busted at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [12 favorites]
posted by Old'n'Busted at 11:49 AM on April 10, 2012 [12 favorites]
.
posted by MattMangels at 11:50 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by MattMangels at 11:50 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Time to shake that Etch A Sketch...
posted by Perplexity at 11:51 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Perplexity at 11:51 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Santorum coverage surges following surprise pullout!
Yawn. In any event, good riddance. Now we're down to, what, three really crazy nutbags on the GOP field, down from five really crazy nutbags?
This has been, indeed, the weirdest campaign season I've been lucky enough to witness (in horror).
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:52 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Yawn. In any event, good riddance. Now we're down to, what, three really crazy nutbags on the GOP field, down from five really crazy nutbags?
This has been, indeed, the weirdest campaign season I've been lucky enough to witness (in horror).
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:52 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Not with a bang, but with a whimper...
More like a squirt really.
posted by The Whelk at 11:52 AM on April 10, 2012 [21 favorites]
More like a squirt really.
posted by The Whelk at 11:52 AM on April 10, 2012 [21 favorites]
Huh. Two totally offensive meme posts in a row.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by eyeballkid at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Is there other incentive for him to suspend instead of officially ending his campaign other than the money aspect? Not that these guys are known for their integrity, but that just seems so sleazy.
posted by troika at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by troika at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Did the Republican Party just get rick rolled?!
posted by Fizz at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Fizz at 11:53 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Now I *like* women and no longer wish to shoot gays. DESTROY THE GOVERMENT CRUSH THE POOR SUPPORT THE RICH Love me everyone!"
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
This guy scared the life out of me with his resurgence. Now the Santorum has been wiped up once and for all.
This "once and for all" idea -- not a chance. He will be back in 2016. God has already told him this. Let's say Romney were to win and serve two terms. Santorum would be three years younger in 2020 than Romney is now. Rick'll be back.
posted by blucevalo at 11:55 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
This "once and for all" idea -- not a chance. He will be back in 2016. God has already told him this. Let's say Romney were to win and serve two terms. Santorum would be three years younger in 2020 than Romney is now. Rick'll be back.
posted by blucevalo at 11:55 AM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
I could not be happier that this post is sitting square on top of the one about the goatse guy.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:56 AM on April 10, 2012 [27 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:56 AM on April 10, 2012 [27 favorites]
He will be back in 2016.
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Is there other incentive for him to suspend instead of officially ending his campaign other than the money aspect? Not that these guys are known for their integrity, but that just seems so sleazy.
WaPo actually pointed out that distinction in their blog post, which makes me think it was just a snap answer to the obvious question: why suspend and not end. (And I actually meant to put that sentence after the jump rather than emphasizing it as so).
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012
WaPo actually pointed out that distinction in their blog post, which makes me think it was just a snap answer to the obvious question: why suspend and not end. (And I actually meant to put that sentence after the jump rather than emphasizing it as so).
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012
They said that about Palin.
Maybe he can write stupid books and go on extended donor-funded signing tours every election.
posted by Artw at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012
Maybe he can write stupid books and go on extended donor-funded signing tours every election.
posted by Artw at 11:57 AM on April 10, 2012
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
Everybody thought there was little to no chance he'd be here this year, either. So there's that.
posted by blucevalo at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012
Everybody thought there was little to no chance he'd be here this year, either. So there's that.
posted by blucevalo at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012
This is good news for the blah people.
posted by Legomancer at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012 [34 favorites]
posted by Legomancer at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012 [34 favorites]
He will be back in 2016
I think you meant 1956. You know, what with his values and treatment of women & minorities.
posted by Fizz at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
I think you meant 1956. You know, what with his values and treatment of women & minorities.
posted by Fizz at 11:58 AM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Is there other incentive for him to suspend instead of officially ending his campaign other than the money aspect? Not that these guys are known for their integrity, but that just seems so sleazy.
This is how it pretty much always works. There's nothing unusually sleazy about it; if the campaign's officially shut down, it can't raise money any more, and if there's debt, that's a problem. Hillary's campaign officially kept going for months after she conceded to Obama, for example, and continued fundraising for a pretty long time - in order to retire her debts.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
This is how it pretty much always works. There's nothing unusually sleazy about it; if the campaign's officially shut down, it can't raise money any more, and if there's debt, that's a problem. Hillary's campaign officially kept going for months after she conceded to Obama, for example, and continued fundraising for a pretty long time - in order to retire her debts.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
He will be back in 2016.
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
Little to no chance didn't stop him this time, I can't imagine it would stop him in 2016. It occurred to me a few weeks ago that Rick Santorum isn't a politician at all, he's a crusader. If you think of him in those terms, everything he does makes a lot more sense.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
Little to no chance didn't stop him this time, I can't imagine it would stop him in 2016. It occurred to me a few weeks ago that Rick Santorum isn't a politician at all, he's a crusader. If you think of him in those terms, everything he does makes a lot more sense.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:59 AM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
This is good news for the blah people.
And Negr...o...ponte, chairman of the MIT media lab.
posted by Artw at 12:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
And Negr...o...ponte, chairman of the MIT media lab.
posted by Artw at 12:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
My biggest fear about this is that if Romney loses to Obama, it will build up incredible resentment among the far-right at being denied during the primaries and subsequently losing yet another election to the Kenyan Communist Antichrist because of a perceived RINO. I doubt he'd accomplish much because of the sorry state of Congress, but there would still be extreme hatred whipped up against him in the meantime to back a much stronger and much more conservative candidate in 2016 -- just when a powerful incumbent like Obama is out of the picture.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 12:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm still waiting to see this GOP splintering I keep getting promised.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [23 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [23 favorites]
I'd be more worried about him coming back in four/eight years if I thought he was smart enough to learn any actual lessons from the last couple of months. “Be the last alternative to the Romneytron 2000” isn't really a repeatable strategy.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Incredible resentment among the far-right has been one of the primary driving force of politics for 4 years now, I'm sure we'll live.
posted by Artw at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Is there other incentive for him to suspend instead of officially ending his campaign other than the money aspect?
Without commenting on my personal opinion of the guy, as soon as I heard the story about his developmentally-disabled daughter being hospitalized, I had a feeling this would happen.
posted by Gator at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
Without commenting on my personal opinion of the guy, as soon as I heard the story about his developmentally-disabled daughter being hospitalized, I had a feeling this would happen.
posted by Gator at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
So...Clear sailing for Gingrich now, eh?
posted by Thorzdad at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
My biggest fear about this is that if Romney loses to Obama, it will build up incredible resentment among the far-right at being denied during the primaries and subsequently losing yet another election to the Kenyan Communist Antichrist because of a perceived RINO.
I think the "religious" right will definitely argue that a Romney loss was because he wasn't conservative enough.
posted by drezdn at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012
I think the "religious" right will definitely argue that a Romney loss was because he wasn't conservative enough.
posted by drezdn at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012
He's going to try to become the white male Christian version of Oprah. This post is currently held by Tim Tebow. Except that Tebow actually has a skill.
A questionable one, of course. But still. An actual skill that's convertible for real money.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
A questionable one, of course. But still. An actual skill that's convertible for real money.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:04 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Now's the time for Newt to shine!
posted by sutt at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by sutt at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
The only reason that the circular firing squad stopped shooting at each other is because they ran out of bullets.
posted by double block and bleed at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by double block and bleed at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012
*adds "Kenyan Communist Antichrist" to list of sockpuppet username ideas*
posted by twirlip at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by twirlip at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012
The best part of this, I think, is that Romney has gone over so far to the right to match Santorum, that it’s going to cost him big time. I don’t actually think Romney is anti-gay rights (he didn’t seem to be when he was governor of Massachusetts) or anti health care (ditto), so why is he now?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:07 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm starting to wonder if splitting the not-Romney hyperconservative vote between candidates like Gingrich and Santorum was intentional maneuvering to make sure Romney stayed competitive.
posted by weston at 12:09 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by weston at 12:09 PM on April 10, 2012
Oh, I don't doubt that some pretty horrible stuff lurks under the plastic. He's got a better chance of winning, and he'd be absolutely as much of a disaster for anyone not a plutocrat or bigot.
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
More like a squirt really.
A seepage.
Just a little seepage.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012
A seepage.
Just a little seepage.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012
By suspending his campaign rather than ending it, Santorum can continue to raise money to retire any remaining debt he might have.
Just FYI, this is 100% standard procedure in modern campaigns. This is the method in which candidates "drop out" in this day and age. There's nothing unusual about it.
posted by deanc at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just FYI, this is 100% standard procedure in modern campaigns. This is the method in which candidates "drop out" in this day and age. There's nothing unusual about it.
posted by deanc at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think you meant 1956. You know, what with his values and treatment of women & minorities.
Eisenhower and Nixon in 1956 were more forward-thinking on women and minorities than any of the candidates in this GOP field. At the 1956 GOP convention, Eisenhower said, "Free collective bargaining without government interference is the cornerstone of the American philosophy of labor-management relations." The 1956 GOP platform had a plank assuring "equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex" and vowing to fight "for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex." The 1956 platform even contained a plank "recommend[ing] to Congress the submission of a constitutional amendment providing equal rights for men and women."
The GOP of 2012 with Romney as its nominee will uphold and support none of these things.
posted by blucevalo at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [141 favorites]
Eisenhower and Nixon in 1956 were more forward-thinking on women and minorities than any of the candidates in this GOP field. At the 1956 GOP convention, Eisenhower said, "Free collective bargaining without government interference is the cornerstone of the American philosophy of labor-management relations." The 1956 GOP platform had a plank assuring "equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex" and vowing to fight "for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex." The 1956 platform even contained a plank "recommend[ing] to Congress the submission of a constitutional amendment providing equal rights for men and women."
The GOP of 2012 with Romney as its nominee will uphold and support none of these things.
posted by blucevalo at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [141 favorites]
If Obama wins the election, Santorum will be back in 2016 with a vengeance. He'll argue that Romney lost by "being too moderate" and "alienating the base". Santorum's campaign will be the right-wingiest thing thing that ever right-winged. It'll be something to behold.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Just FYI, this is 100% standard procedure in modern campaigns
What surprises me about it is that people continue to give despite the knowledge ge's dropped out. Are people literally just throwing money at him now out of sympathy or something?
posted by Hoopo at 12:14 PM on April 10, 2012
What surprises me about it is that people continue to give despite the knowledge ge's dropped out. Are people literally just throwing money at him now out of sympathy or something?
posted by Hoopo at 12:14 PM on April 10, 2012
I was wondering the same thing, Hoopo. Maybe so the candidate is in better shape for a future campaign?
posted by brundlefly at 12:15 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 12:15 PM on April 10, 2012
If they want him to run again, donating now is just as good as donating in four/eight years; every dollar of debt he pays off today is a dollar he can put toward the next campaign down the line.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:16 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:16 PM on April 10, 2012
I think if Ricky had had as much money at his disposal as Mittens Romney would have lost this race. It is near inconceivable that someone who supposedly was so well organized and had so much capitol at his disposal struggled so hard against such a weak GOP field. Hell, if weak kneeed Pawlenty hadn't jumped overboard so quick we could have seen a T-paw nominee.
posted by edgeways at 12:17 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by edgeways at 12:17 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Eisenhower and Nixon in 1956 were more forward-thinking on women and minorities than any of the candidates in this GOP field.
Related: Why won't the GOP stick up for Eisenhower?
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [9 favorites]
Related: Why won't the GOP stick up for Eisenhower?
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [9 favorites]
I guess America just isn't ready for her first gay president.
posted by Algebra at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [22 favorites]
posted by Algebra at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [22 favorites]
Woo hoo! Now the jokes can stop...right? Right?
posted by Elly Vortex at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Elly Vortex at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
He's Roman Catholic. He doesn't believe in aborting his campaign. That explains his pull-out method.
posted by inturnaround at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [24 favorites]
posted by inturnaround at 12:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [24 favorites]
Dave Mustaine will be crestfallen.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
When are we going to run a MetaFilter candidate?
posted by davejay at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by davejay at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
He'll argue that Romney lost by "being too moderate" and "alienating the base".
This would be true regardless of who the Republican candidate is. The right wing is never so comfortable as when playing the victim card. "Oh, we were betrayed! Stabbed in the back!" Because, to the 'wingers, no True Conservative could lose.
posted by SPrintF at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
This would be true regardless of who the Republican candidate is. The right wing is never so comfortable as when playing the victim card. "Oh, we were betrayed! Stabbed in the back!" Because, to the 'wingers, no True Conservative could lose.
posted by SPrintF at 12:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
GOP Operative: Rick?
Rick: Yes?
GOP Operative: This is a one time deal. Talk show on Fox, think of the money.
Rick: blah blah constitution, blah.... ...
[10 minutes later]
GOP Operative: Ok ok! Final offer! New Cabinet Position: the Ministry of Ending Online Pornography And Or Dan Savage.
Rick: WRAP IT UP!!!!
posted by stratastar at 12:21 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Rick: Yes?
GOP Operative: This is a one time deal. Talk show on Fox, think of the money.
Rick: blah blah constitution, blah.... ...
[10 minutes later]
GOP Operative: Ok ok! Final offer! New Cabinet Position: the Ministry of Ending Online Pornography And Or Dan Savage.
Rick: WRAP IT UP!!!!
posted by stratastar at 12:21 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm starting to wonder if splitting the not-Romney hyperconservative vote between candidates like Gingrich and Santorum was intentional maneuvering to make sure Romney stayed competitive.
I think things like this definitely went on, but it might not have even been obvious to the candidate. A Romney "operative" could easily approach someone like Gingrich and convince them to run. Gingrich does it because he thinks people want him to be president, while his financiers are using him to split the not-Romney vote.
I do think that Pawlenty dropped out partially to not take votes away from Romney, and wouldn't be surprised, if Mitt wins, to see T-Paw appointed to a high position.
posted by drezdn at 12:23 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think things like this definitely went on, but it might not have even been obvious to the candidate. A Romney "operative" could easily approach someone like Gingrich and convince them to run. Gingrich does it because he thinks people want him to be president, while his financiers are using him to split the not-Romney vote.
I do think that Pawlenty dropped out partially to not take votes away from Romney, and wouldn't be surprised, if Mitt wins, to see T-Paw appointed to a high position.
posted by drezdn at 12:23 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
He will be back in 2016.
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
If the Republicans are in a social issues mood still, he will again get traction. He came in this time as a joke and left as a serious contender for the nomination.
Republicans have a habit of nominating the previous runner up in the primary, so it would be silly of Santorum not to try again. (That is why I wanted to slap anyone who suggested voting for him for Operation Chaos type reasons, this is not a guy to play with, just get rid of him as quickly as possible)
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:25 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
If the Republicans are in a social issues mood still, he will again get traction. He came in this time as a joke and left as a serious contender for the nomination.
Republicans have a habit of nominating the previous runner up in the primary, so it would be silly of Santorum not to try again. (That is why I wanted to slap anyone who suggested voting for him for Operation Chaos type reasons, this is not a guy to play with, just get rid of him as quickly as possible)
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:25 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
posted by crunchland at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
He's Roman Catholic. He doesn't believe in aborting his campaign. That explains his pull-out method.
He only believes in POTUS interruptus.
posted by Pistache at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [14 favorites]
He only believes in POTUS interruptus.
posted by Pistache at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [14 favorites]
I'm starting to wonder if splitting the not-Romney hyperconservative vote between candidates like Gingrich and Santorum was intentional maneuvering to make sure Romney stayed competitive.
Too risky, too complex, too hard to do. Occam's Razor etc.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:28 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Too risky, too complex, too hard to do. Occam's Razor etc.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:28 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wow, this post has been open for almost an hour and nobody's done that "cat on the instant messenger" thing. A bold show of restraint!
posted by jbickers at 12:31 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by jbickers at 12:31 PM on April 10, 2012
I guess America just isn't ready for her first gay president.
In related recent news: Homophobes Likely To Be Closet Gays, Study Finds
In related recent news: Homophobes Likely To Be Closet Gays, Study Finds
"The study, which analyzed four separate experiments conducted in the US and Germany, provides empirical evidence to suggest that in some individuals homophobia is the external manifestation of repressed sexual desires they feel towards their own gender."posted by ericb at 12:33 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
I'm starting to wonder if splitting the not-Romney hyperconservative vote between candidates like Gingrich and Santorum was intentional maneuvering to make sure Romney stayed competitive.
I don't think it had to be intentional. I also think that it could easily have been done just by stoking Gingrich's ego. Santorum wasn't going to quit while he was second in a four-man race. The numbers for all of the non-Romney candidates have been bad for a while now, and my guess is that Santorum would have dropped out a few weeks ago if it hadn't been for Gingrich staying in the race out of sheer stubbornness.
posted by gauche at 12:34 PM on April 10, 2012
I don't think it had to be intentional. I also think that it could easily have been done just by stoking Gingrich's ego. Santorum wasn't going to quit while he was second in a four-man race. The numbers for all of the non-Romney candidates have been bad for a while now, and my guess is that Santorum would have dropped out a few weeks ago if it hadn't been for Gingrich staying in the race out of sheer stubbornness.
posted by gauche at 12:34 PM on April 10, 2012
Santorum is arguably the politician that I have had the most visceral (negative) reaction to. He's certainly the one that's caused me to spend the most money. On the other hand, I'm just a little bit sad that the theoretical peak value for santorum.com is now probably in the past.
posted by Phredward at 12:35 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Phredward at 12:35 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
In related recent news: Homophobes Likely To Be Closet Gays, Study Finds
i love news that isn't new news. same goes for santorum (finally) pulling out. i'm just grateful i can wear my sweater vests again with pride.
posted by anya32 at 12:36 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
i love news that isn't new news. same goes for santorum (finally) pulling out. i'm just grateful i can wear my sweater vests again with pride.
posted by anya32 at 12:36 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
So we won't have Santorum to smear around anymore?
posted by Naberius at 12:44 PM on April 10, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 12:44 PM on April 10, 2012 [6 favorites]
Moon base! Moon base!
posted by jeffamaphone at 12:52 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffamaphone at 12:52 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
I take heart that Santorum is out, and lose heart that people voted for that bigot and thief in the first place.
posted by RakDaddy at 12:52 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by RakDaddy at 12:52 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Incredible resentment among the far-right has been one of the primary driving force of politics for 4 years now, I'm sure we'll live.
Or die by the sword of the Most Holy Army of Christ, Inc. Wevs.
Anyway, the unasked question here is: Did Romney make Rick's kids cry again?
posted by octobersurprise at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2012
Or die by the sword of the Most Holy Army of Christ, Inc. Wevs.
Anyway, the unasked question here is: Did Romney make Rick's kids cry again?
posted by octobersurprise at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2012
For What Cabinet Position Will Mitt Romney ‘Tap’ Loser Rick Santorum?
posted by ericb at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by ericb at 12:54 PM on April 10, 2012
...but....who's going to carry the torch now?...um, not that torch.
...okay, that torch, but I don't mean that in a bad way.
Maybe I was thinking of that guy in Florida.
posted by mule98J at 12:56 PM on April 10, 2012
...okay, that torch, but I don't mean that in a bad way.
Maybe I was thinking of that guy in Florida.
posted by mule98J at 12:56 PM on April 10, 2012
All those millions of dollars spent on ads from SuperPACs, evaporated. That money could be used for something constructive, such as a luxury car demolition derby, or a remake of Cop Rock starring the cast of The Wire. But nope. At least some TV stations in swing states got some cash to throw around now.
posted by hellojed at 12:57 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by hellojed at 12:57 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
Posted almost exactly two months ago: Can we just fast-forward a few months...
posted by mcstayinskool at 12:57 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by mcstayinskool at 12:57 PM on April 10, 2012
This brings the total of 2012 Republican candidates who believed that God wanted him or her to run for the Presidency, only to drop out in defeat, to four.
God has an interesting sense of humor. Barring that, He must've made a bundle on Intrade.
posted by delfin at 12:58 PM on April 10, 2012 [29 favorites]
God has an interesting sense of humor. Barring that, He must've made a bundle on Intrade.
posted by delfin at 12:58 PM on April 10, 2012 [29 favorites]
God has an interesting sense of humor. Barring that, He must've made a bundle on Intrade.
Did you ever see the talking-to-"God" sequences in Real Genius?
It was kind of like that.
(I would like to thank the 2012 GOP field for my new fleet of sportscars.)
posted by mightygodking at 1:00 PM on April 10, 2012
Did you ever see the talking-to-"God" sequences in Real Genius?
It was kind of like that.
(I would like to thank the 2012 GOP field for my new fleet of sportscars.)
posted by mightygodking at 1:00 PM on April 10, 2012
I hope God taps me to run for president one day, I want to know what these people think they're experiencing. Fingers crossed for this.
posted by troika at 1:00 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by troika at 1:00 PM on April 10, 2012
Whoa, did not realize that the first google image search result for "Monty Python God" would be a gif. Sorry, didn't mean to call you all assholes.
posted by troika at 1:02 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by troika at 1:02 PM on April 10, 2012
Dressage is the new wind surfing.
Forget Kerry's wind surfing. How about Romney's body surfing Easter weekend near his $12 million La Jolla, California home (you know, the one under renovation/expansion where he is building a 'car elevator').
posted by ericb at 1:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [6 favorites]
Forget Kerry's wind surfing. How about Romney's body surfing Easter weekend near his $12 million La Jolla, California home (you know, the one under renovation/expansion where he is building a 'car elevator').
posted by ericb at 1:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [6 favorites]
Rapture Ready are kind of cut up about it, also strangely obsessed with The Hunger Games.
posted by Artw at 1:03 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 1:03 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Did you ever see the talking-to-"God" sequences in Real Genius? It was kind of like that.
Santorum didn't need to be told not to play with himself.
The naked-with-a-bowl-of-Jell-O part, that I can picture.
posted by delfin at 1:03 PM on April 10, 2012
Santorum didn't need to be told not to play with himself.
The naked-with-a-bowl-of-Jell-O part, that I can picture.
posted by delfin at 1:03 PM on April 10, 2012
Can't stand him but I'm glad his 3 year old is ok.
posted by stormpooper at 1:06 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by stormpooper at 1:06 PM on April 10, 2012 [5 favorites]
This brings the total of 2012 Republican candidates who believed that God wanted him or her to run for the Presidency, only to drop out in defeat, to four.
I'd call that quite a destiny.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 1:08 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'd call that quite a destiny.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 1:08 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wonder if there was a Santorum leak somewhere?
posted by clvrmnky at 1:18 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by clvrmnky at 1:18 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing his single largest financial backer has backed out.
That was my immediate reaction as well. I think he would have gone on for as long as Friess was paying.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:20 PM on April 10, 2012
That was my immediate reaction as well. I think he would have gone on for as long as Friess was paying.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:20 PM on April 10, 2012
Holy shit - that Fox mole thing on Gawker is so full of potential I'm actually salivating here.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:24 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:24 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
I understand that his daughter is critically ill and taken a severe turn for the worse.
posted by humanfont at 1:28 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 1:28 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
If Obama wins the election, Santorum will be back in 2016 with a vengeance. He'll argue that Romney lost by "being too moderate" and "alienating the base". Santorum's campaign will be the right-wingiest thing thing that ever right-winged. It'll be something to behold.
Bring it on. Think about the GOP field this year:
1) Romney — Born on third base, thinks he hit a home run. Has never gone hungry or known what the working and middle classes struggle through. Made all of his money by invoking government bankruptcy protection; probably one of the largest recipients of government welfare of the 1990s.
2) Santorum — Unapologetic misogynist, homophobe, and thinks having values means supporting a church that protects pedophiles. Also believes that a 15th century view on birth control is better than protecting millions of people from AIDS, other STDs, and overpopulation.
3) Newt Gingrich — Is Newt Gingrich.
4) The hopelessly out of touch homophobic governor from Texas who wasn't the President's son.
5) The folksy lady who apparently doesn't like to read.
The desperation to extend the Southern Strategy to promote racism and homophobia is painfully obvious, but it's not going to work. I don't know very many people under the age of 35 who are afraid of minorities or orientations of any stripe, and the next generation has been raised watching Glee. The old guard doesn't have any cards left to play. Society is progressing, whether they like it or not, and if the GOP continues to try and con votes out of people instead of returning to the sensible conservatism of the past — one of accountability, small government, and real support of freedom instead of the fascist police state they've been building for the last 11 years — they are going to become completely irrelevant.
I was thinking there would be some careful strategists left in their hierarchy, but it looks like they are going to keep pushing twisted value systems until the whole country revolts. Just look at how Santorum rates across the board with women, and how the whole field rates with anyone under the age of 30. The only blocs they have left are paranoid baby boomers, biblically illiterate evangelicals, catastrophically short sighted industrialists, and the party loyalists who are already branching out into their own because of the awful mess that the GOP has turned into.
posted by deanklear at 1:29 PM on April 10, 2012 [28 favorites]
Bring it on. Think about the GOP field this year:
1) Romney — Born on third base, thinks he hit a home run. Has never gone hungry or known what the working and middle classes struggle through. Made all of his money by invoking government bankruptcy protection; probably one of the largest recipients of government welfare of the 1990s.
2) Santorum — Unapologetic misogynist, homophobe, and thinks having values means supporting a church that protects pedophiles. Also believes that a 15th century view on birth control is better than protecting millions of people from AIDS, other STDs, and overpopulation.
3) Newt Gingrich — Is Newt Gingrich.
4) The hopelessly out of touch homophobic governor from Texas who wasn't the President's son.
5) The folksy lady who apparently doesn't like to read.
The desperation to extend the Southern Strategy to promote racism and homophobia is painfully obvious, but it's not going to work. I don't know very many people under the age of 35 who are afraid of minorities or orientations of any stripe, and the next generation has been raised watching Glee. The old guard doesn't have any cards left to play. Society is progressing, whether they like it or not, and if the GOP continues to try and con votes out of people instead of returning to the sensible conservatism of the past — one of accountability, small government, and real support of freedom instead of the fascist police state they've been building for the last 11 years — they are going to become completely irrelevant.
I was thinking there would be some careful strategists left in their hierarchy, but it looks like they are going to keep pushing twisted value systems until the whole country revolts. Just look at how Santorum rates across the board with women, and how the whole field rates with anyone under the age of 30. The only blocs they have left are paranoid baby boomers, biblically illiterate evangelicals, catastrophically short sighted industrialists, and the party loyalists who are already branching out into their own because of the awful mess that the GOP has turned into.
posted by deanklear at 1:29 PM on April 10, 2012 [28 favorites]
I told you guys last year.
I mean, I told you completely wrong, but I told you!
posted by cashman at 1:31 PM on April 10, 2012
I mean, I told you completely wrong, but I told you!
posted by cashman at 1:31 PM on April 10, 2012
Mightygodking tries to predict Mitt's running mate
posted by The Whelk at 1:34 PM on April 10, 2012 [19 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 1:34 PM on April 10, 2012 [19 favorites]
I do think that Pawlenty dropped out partially to not take votes away from Romney, and wouldn't be surprised, if Mitt wins, to see T-Paw appointed to a high position.
Really? I thought T-Paw dropped out because he has no backbone, and couldn't stand it that Bachmann was trouncing him by being the right-wingier Minnesota candidate. He does like to curry favor with the alpha males, so maybe that will work out for him.
posted by Flannery Culp at 1:43 PM on April 10, 2012
Really? I thought T-Paw dropped out because he has no backbone, and couldn't stand it that Bachmann was trouncing him by being the right-wingier Minnesota candidate. He does like to curry favor with the alpha males, so maybe that will work out for him.
posted by Flannery Culp at 1:43 PM on April 10, 2012
I guess this signals the next wetware upgrade install for Rom-E. Should be up to ver. 2012.4.0 by my reckoning. No friggen wonder he keeps contradicting himself, with a kernel rewrite so often it is hard to keep the essential system debugged
posted by edgeways at 1:44 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by edgeways at 1:44 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Woo! Tonight anal sex night!
Is there any other way to celebrate this slippery turn of events before Romney's frothy men refocus their attentions on Newt and Obama? ;)
posted by jeffburdges at 1:48 PM on April 10, 2012
Is there any other way to celebrate this slippery turn of events before Romney's frothy men refocus their attentions on Newt and Obama? ;)
posted by jeffburdges at 1:48 PM on April 10, 2012
Society is progressing, whether they like it or not, and if the GOP continues to try and con votes out of people instead of returning to the sensible conservatism of the past — one of accountability, small government, and real support of freedom instead of the fascist police state they've been building for the last 11 years — they are going to become completely irrelevant.
Society is (s-l-o-w-l-y) progressing past many social conservative trenches. I may live long enough to see gay marriage become what interracial marriage was to my parents' generation -- first illegal, then controversial, then unusual, then joked about, then reasonably mainstream (though not without lingering resentments in some places). Abortion clinics are still targets of violence and harassment, but while legislatures continue to chip away at Roe and Casey and Planned Parenthood, those with sufficient resources are unlikely to lose access to said care.
Fiscally? Republicans no longer even try to compromise because they don't need to. Judicially? Even acknowledged moderates can't get their nominations through Congress. In terms of equality under the law and in the workplace and on the airwaves and in the ballot box? Don't get me started.
And don't imagine that an Obama win in November means disaster for the GOP -- in many ways, particularly if they make gains in Congress and at state levels, it's preferable for them.
posted by delfin at 1:49 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Society is (s-l-o-w-l-y) progressing past many social conservative trenches. I may live long enough to see gay marriage become what interracial marriage was to my parents' generation -- first illegal, then controversial, then unusual, then joked about, then reasonably mainstream (though not without lingering resentments in some places). Abortion clinics are still targets of violence and harassment, but while legislatures continue to chip away at Roe and Casey and Planned Parenthood, those with sufficient resources are unlikely to lose access to said care.
Fiscally? Republicans no longer even try to compromise because they don't need to. Judicially? Even acknowledged moderates can't get their nominations through Congress. In terms of equality under the law and in the workplace and on the airwaves and in the ballot box? Don't get me started.
And don't imagine that an Obama win in November means disaster for the GOP -- in many ways, particularly if they make gains in Congress and at state levels, it's preferable for them.
posted by delfin at 1:49 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Radicalizing conservatives worked well for Republicans in the midterms which are plagued by low voter turnout. I don't think it will work for them in the Presidential race which is won or lost by the ability to attract swing moderates.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 1:51 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 1:51 PM on April 10, 2012
Pawlenty was by all accounts going to be the nom for VP in 2008 until the old war horse got smitten by the young filly from the land of the midnight sun. T-Paw's essential milquetoastedness won't bring a lot to the Romney ticket, but it might give him another campaign to loose. There is a handful of Pawlenty book-cover mods in this tread from a local blog
posted by edgeways at 1:52 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by edgeways at 1:52 PM on April 10, 2012
Newt: Last Conservative Standing
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:53 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:53 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
lose heart that people voted for thief in the first place.
I don't remember the thief part - other than the normal 'don't steal - the government hates competition' kind of branding.
What are the details again on the thief thing again?
posted by rough ashlar at 2:01 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't remember the thief part - other than the normal 'don't steal - the government hates competition' kind of branding.
What are the details again on the thief thing again?
posted by rough ashlar at 2:01 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Thank God that's over with. Now, when is Ron Paul gonna give up? Newt's doubtless hoping the old fart will have a coronary.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 2:08 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 2:08 PM on April 10, 2012
Is a brokered convention still possible? I'm thinking no, since Santorum doesn't have enough delegates to hold hostage, but maybe I'm missing a trick. I was really looking forward to that too...
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 2:09 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 2:09 PM on April 10, 2012
The desperation to extend the Southern Strategy to promote racism and homophobia is painfully obvious, but it's not going to work. I don't know very many people under the age of 35 who are afraid of minorities or orientations of any stripe, and the next generation has been raised watching Glee.
I've been saying for years that the Rs need to find some real ways to appeal to urban voters if they want to stay viable in the long term. They don't even need to 'win' urban areas outright, but if they could move up from 43% to 48% of the vote (say) in urban it would be enough to make a difference and keep the party viable as a mainstream party appealing to many different sectors of the electorate.* But the Rs have been running firmly in the opposite direction, and their main strategy seems to be voter disenfranchisement plus gerrymandering state & congressional districts for maximum R advantage plus pumping up their core supporters through scare tactics etc to keep them voting at a higher rate than average, all in order to make their ever-shrinking supporter base win them elections for as long as possible. That's working, sort of, for now, but it's a rear-guard action and it's not building them anything for the future beyond 2-5 years. I'm not really seeing any effort to reach out to new voters, particularly urban/diverse voters.
But I'm thinking of a different strategy now. If the Ds could come with with even a little bit of a rural strategy--so that the Ds could move up from, say, 43% to 49% of the rural vote, or make similar gains with the 'exurban' vote**--the result would be the collapse of the Republican party as we know it.
The replacement for the Republican Party would almost certainly have to reach out to a wider spectrum of the population to be viable. I think that would be a very good thing for the country and its political system.
* I live in a state where the rural/urban divide is very prominent and Rs have an iron grip on both houses of the state legislature, despite being an actual minority of both citizens and voters--because votes in rural areas count for more than votes in urban areas at the state level, just as they do at the national level. So this might color my thinking, but it's a common situation among U.S. states and it is definitely true at the national level that rural votes carry a lot more weight than urban. The natural result of that should be that all parties make an attempt to curry favor with rural voters, whose votes carry more weight.
** If the exurbs even exist by the time the next election rolls around.
posted by flug at 2:17 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've been saying for years that the Rs need to find some real ways to appeal to urban voters if they want to stay viable in the long term. They don't even need to 'win' urban areas outright, but if they could move up from 43% to 48% of the vote (say) in urban it would be enough to make a difference and keep the party viable as a mainstream party appealing to many different sectors of the electorate.* But the Rs have been running firmly in the opposite direction, and their main strategy seems to be voter disenfranchisement plus gerrymandering state & congressional districts for maximum R advantage plus pumping up their core supporters through scare tactics etc to keep them voting at a higher rate than average, all in order to make their ever-shrinking supporter base win them elections for as long as possible. That's working, sort of, for now, but it's a rear-guard action and it's not building them anything for the future beyond 2-5 years. I'm not really seeing any effort to reach out to new voters, particularly urban/diverse voters.
But I'm thinking of a different strategy now. If the Ds could come with with even a little bit of a rural strategy--so that the Ds could move up from, say, 43% to 49% of the rural vote, or make similar gains with the 'exurban' vote**--the result would be the collapse of the Republican party as we know it.
The replacement for the Republican Party would almost certainly have to reach out to a wider spectrum of the population to be viable. I think that would be a very good thing for the country and its political system.
* I live in a state where the rural/urban divide is very prominent and Rs have an iron grip on both houses of the state legislature, despite being an actual minority of both citizens and voters--because votes in rural areas count for more than votes in urban areas at the state level, just as they do at the national level. So this might color my thinking, but it's a common situation among U.S. states and it is definitely true at the national level that rural votes carry a lot more weight than urban. The natural result of that should be that all parties make an attempt to curry favor with rural voters, whose votes carry more weight.
** If the exurbs even exist by the time the next election rolls around.
posted by flug at 2:17 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
rough_ashlar: I'm going off Will Bunch's reporting about Santorum. Points 1, 2, and 4 sound like theft to me: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-bunch/rick-santorum-surge_b_1185833.html
posted by RakDaddy at 2:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by RakDaddy at 2:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
when is Ron Paul gonna give up?
Considering he's pulling in millions in small donations every quarter and can pull in thousands at his rallies - why should he? (it helps if you put the rally in the central square at a college at lunchtime ;-)
Its not like he spent time attacking Romney in the debates and he's got a number of delegates to bargain with for a brokered convention - if that is the way it goes. No reason to change that behaviour either.
The spending level of the government and the 'kinetic actions' are concerns and Paul is the only one pulling in millions in donations who's bringing it up and saying its not in the nation's best interest.
posted by rough ashlar at 2:31 PM on April 10, 2012
Considering he's pulling in millions in small donations every quarter and can pull in thousands at his rallies - why should he? (it helps if you put the rally in the central square at a college at lunchtime ;-)
Its not like he spent time attacking Romney in the debates and he's got a number of delegates to bargain with for a brokered convention - if that is the way it goes. No reason to change that behaviour either.
The spending level of the government and the 'kinetic actions' are concerns and Paul is the only one pulling in millions in donations who's bringing it up and saying its not in the nation's best interest.
posted by rough ashlar at 2:31 PM on April 10, 2012
"I don’t actually think Romney is anti-gay rights (he didn’t seem to be when he was governor of Massachusetts) or anti health care (ditto), so why is he now?"
Gee... you'd think someone in his campaign made a determination that:
...wouldn't make a good campaign slogan.
posted by markkraft at 2:36 PM on April 10, 2012
Gee... you'd think someone in his campaign made a determination that:
Romney: $50 no-parental-notification state-funded abortions and transsexual counseling for your Kindergartener!"...wouldn't make a good campaign slogan.
posted by markkraft at 2:36 PM on April 10, 2012
How is Santorum allowed to abort his campaign? Shouldn't he be forced to carry it to term?
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:37 PM on April 10, 2012 [17 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:37 PM on April 10, 2012 [17 favorites]
he seems to be the last person to see the writing on the wall, re: his own chances at the Presidency
Surely his primary motive for staying in the race was to get sufficient news coverage to fix his Google problem? He probably just has some computer geek on his staff who finally told him, "Yeah, that's knocked the Dan Savage crap down 'below the fold' on a Google search for your name. You can quit now."
posted by straight at 2:54 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Surely his primary motive for staying in the race was to get sufficient news coverage to fix his Google problem? He probably just has some computer geek on his staff who finally told him, "Yeah, that's knocked the Dan Savage crap down 'below the fold' on a Google search for your name. You can quit now."
posted by straight at 2:54 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don’t actually think Romney is anti-gay rights or anti health care , so why is he now?
Some kind of comment about how he's like an etch-a-sketch was made by a guy tied to the campaign.
"You hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again." I guess sketchyromney.com was made over the quote/event.
He'd not be the 1st to have one pitch on the lead up and do something else later.
Kind of like how one says they are hope and change. Or how they won't be nationbuilding. Or how they have a plan to balance the budget and then expand it. Or how they'd get row vs wade overturned and later shock supporters by showing both are a great way to get out of a flood. Or how the economic plan was voodoo 'till it was not.
Its not like the drones would stop flying or the 450 million bullets bought by Homeland Security would not get shipped (or many other "things that are wrong" would change) with a change at the top.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:00 PM on April 10, 2012
Some kind of comment about how he's like an etch-a-sketch was made by a guy tied to the campaign.
"You hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again." I guess sketchyromney.com was made over the quote/event.
He'd not be the 1st to have one pitch on the lead up and do something else later.
Kind of like how one says they are hope and change. Or how they won't be nationbuilding. Or how they have a plan to balance the budget and then expand it. Or how they'd get row vs wade overturned and later shock supporters by showing both are a great way to get out of a flood. Or how the economic plan was voodoo 'till it was not.
Its not like the drones would stop flying or the 450 million bullets bought by Homeland Security would not get shipped (or many other "things that are wrong" would change) with a change at the top.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:00 PM on April 10, 2012
"WASHINGTON (AP) — The 3-year-old daughter of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has been released from a Virginia hospital and is settling in at home with her parents, a campaign spokesman said Tuesday.Goodbye, Rick. Sincerely glad your daughter's okay. Spending time in the hospital with a sick three year old is scary as hell, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Bella Santorum, who suffers from a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18, was hospitalized Friday as her father began a brief holiday break from campaigning. Santorum did not campaign Monday so he could be with his daughter, who was discharged from the hospital Monday night."
posted by zarq at 3:01 PM on April 10, 2012 [12 favorites]
Spending time in the hospital with a sick three year old is scary as hell, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
I'd not heard about this, I'm kind of shocked the kid is that old. Trisome 18 is a death sentence, and living beyond a couple of days is incredibly rare.
posted by Artw at 3:10 PM on April 10, 2012
I'd not heard about this, I'm kind of shocked the kid is that old. Trisome 18 is a death sentence, and living beyond a couple of days is incredibly rare.
posted by Artw at 3:10 PM on April 10, 2012
Santorum signed on to be a contributor to Fox a couple of years ago, right? Did he ever follow through?
posted by huckleberryhart at 3:20 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by huckleberryhart at 3:20 PM on April 10, 2012
Goodbye, Rick. Sincerely glad your daughter's okay. Spending time in the hospital with a sick three year old is scary as hell, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
It's good that he has his government-supplied healthcare for life, to help pay for terrible things like this.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:22 PM on April 10, 2012 [10 favorites]
It's good that he has his government-supplied healthcare for life, to help pay for terrible things like this.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:22 PM on April 10, 2012 [10 favorites]
Artw: " I'd not heard about this, I'm kind of shocked the kid is that old. Trisome 18 is a death sentence, and living beyond a couple of days is incredibly rare."
Yes, and in those few infants that survive, parents sometimes decide to withhold treatment because the long-term prognosis and predicted quality of life are very poor.
Thorzdad: " It's good that he has his government-supplied healthcare for life, to help pay for terrible things like this."
Yes, it is. For her sake, if not his.
posted by zarq at 3:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes, and in those few infants that survive, parents sometimes decide to withhold treatment because the long-term prognosis and predicted quality of life are very poor.
Thorzdad: " It's good that he has his government-supplied healthcare for life, to help pay for terrible things like this."
Yes, it is. For her sake, if not his.
posted by zarq at 3:27 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mother Jones: His tax returns appear to show how expensive caring for a disabled child can be under the current health care system, even for someone with health insurance. In 2009 and 2010, the Santorums racked up $100,000 in medical expenses—more than the median American family income each year—and that's after their private insurance paid some costs. During that same time period, they also had nearly $100,000 worth of household assistance—help they didn't have in 2007, before Bella was born.
I would love to hear his advice on how the average family should tackle those expenses.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:38 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
I would love to hear his advice on how the average family should tackle those expenses.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:38 PM on April 10, 2012 [7 favorites]
Called it.
posted by octothorpe at 12:56 PM on April 10 [1 favorite +] [!]
Didn't basically everyone in the country except for political extremists and the Ron Paul contingent call this 6 months ago?
posted by to sir with millipedes at 3:40 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 12:56 PM on April 10 [1 favorite +] [!]
Didn't basically everyone in the country except for political extremists and the Ron Paul contingent call this 6 months ago?
posted by to sir with millipedes at 3:40 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don’t actually think Romney is anti-gay rights ...
Ah, memories of 'Flip' Romney running against Ted Kennedy for the Senate in 1994.
That was then, this is now.
Mitt Romney's 1994 Letter To Gay Republicans
posted by ericb at 3:54 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ah, memories of 'Flip' Romney running against Ted Kennedy for the Senate in 1994.
That was then, this is now.
Mitt Romney's 1994 Letter To Gay Republicans
'I need your support more than ever.'The guy is an unprincipled, opportunistic, hack who has 'kissed the appropriate ass' throughout his life for purely selfish reasons and advancement. Christ, what an asshole!
On Dec. 8 Bay Windows obtained a copy of a letter Gov. Mitt Romney wrote to the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts in 1994. At the time the letter was written, Romney was in a heated campaign against U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. In the letter, Romney, who is an all-but-declared candidate for president in 2008 and who has made opposition to civil marriage rights for same-sex couples one of his signature issues, pledged to be a more effective leader on gay civil rights than Kennedy. He promised to cosponsor the federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act and expand the legislation to include protections for gay men and lesbians in housing and credit. He also pledged to back the creation of “a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide …”
The letter, which is written on “Romney US Senate” letterhead, was widely reported on at the time. In an Oct. 20, 1994 oped, Boston Herald columnist Don Feder said that the letter proved that “Romney is the Mormon Bill Weld, the man he looks to for inspiration. Nowhere is his social radicalism more apparent than on the cutting-edge moral issue of our age — the normalization of homosexuality.”
On Dec. 9, the New York Times quoted from the 1994 letter and noted that Romney aides “did not dispute the letter’s legitimacy.” Bay Windows determined the letter’s authenticity by comparing quotes from the letter from 1994 news reports on the letter published in Bay Windows, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Bay Windows also considered the credibility of the source — a former officer of the Log Cabin Club — who provided a copy of the letter to Bay Windows.
posted by ericb at 3:54 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
deanklear: I don't know very many people under the age of 35 who are afraid of minorities or orientations of any stripe, and the next generation has been raised watching Glee.
Nobody I know under the age of 35 voted for McCain, and yet 35% of those under the age of 35 who voted in the 2008 presidential election did so. It's reminiscent of the "I don't know how Richard Nixon got elected; nobody I know voted for him!"
I believe progress when I see progress, and not before--and I don't see things getting better for anyone who isn't rich and white anytime soon.
posted by tzikeh at 4:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Nobody I know under the age of 35 voted for McCain, and yet 35% of those under the age of 35 who voted in the 2008 presidential election did so. It's reminiscent of the "I don't know how Richard Nixon got elected; nobody I know voted for him!"
I believe progress when I see progress, and not before--and I don't see things getting better for anyone who isn't rich and white anytime soon.
posted by tzikeh at 4:00 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Get to know 'The Real Romney': RomneyFacts.com | MittRomneyFlops.com | MittRomneysFlipFlops.com.
Mitt Romney - Serial Flip Flopper.
posted by ericb at 4:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mitt Romney - Serial Flip Flopper.
posted by ericb at 4:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
Here's the thing: Even if Obama wins, America will still be in a funk in 2016. If Obama wins this year and doesn't have a mandate, expect another four years of legislative incompetence and sabotage.
2016 could very well lead to a serious 3rd party effort, because both parties will appear culpable, with the irony that we will still have a ton of money in all campaigns. And so it goes: as long as the Plutocrats are in control, the middle class will continue to devolve.
posted by Vibrissae at 4:14 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
2016 could very well lead to a serious 3rd party effort, because both parties will appear culpable, with the irony that we will still have a ton of money in all campaigns. And so it goes: as long as the Plutocrats are in control, the middle class will continue to devolve.
posted by Vibrissae at 4:14 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Some of Mitt Romney’s FlipFlops:
Flip 1: “Roe v. Wade has gone too far.”posted by ericb at 4:16 PM on April 10, 2012 [14 favorites]
Flop 1: “I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.”
Flip 2: “I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose.”
Flop 2: “I never really called myself pro-choice.”
Flip 3: “I’ve been a hunter pretty much all my life.”
Flop 3: “Any description of my being a hunter is an overstatement of capability.”
Flip 4: “It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam.”
Flop 4: “I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there.”
Flip 5: “I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Flop 5: “Ronald Reagan is… my hero.”
Flip 6: “I will work and fight for stem cell research.”
Flop 6: “In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.”
Flip 7: “I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.”
Flop 7: “There’s no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.”
Flip 8: “I like mandates. The mandates work.”
Flop 8: “I think it’s unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.”
Flip 9: “I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.”
Flop 9: “I did not see it with my own eyes.”
Flip 10: “This is a completely airtight kennel mounted on the top of our car.”
Flop 10: “They’re not happy that my dog loves fresh air.”
Flip 11: “It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person.”
Flop 11: “He’s going to pay, and he will die.”
Flip 12: “Those… paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process toward application for citizenship.”
Flop 12: “Amnesty only led to more people coming into the country.”
Flip 13: “I’m not in favor of privatizing Social Security or making cuts.”
Flop 13: “Social Security’s the easiest and that’s because you can give people a personal account.”
Flip 14: “Based on the numbers of American Muslims… I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified.”
Flop 14: “A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”
Flip 15: “I’m a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering.”
Flop 15: “I changed my position.”
Flip 16: “I would like to have campaign spending limits.”
Flop 16: “The American people should be free to advocate for their candidates and their positions without burdensome limitations.”
Flip 17: “I supported the assault weapon ban.”
Flop 17: “I don’t support any gun control legislation.”
Flip 18: “The TARP program… was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.”
Flop 18: “When government is… bailing out banks… we have every good reason to be alarmed.”
Flip 19: “I’m going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.”
Flop 19: “Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.”
Flip 20: “When I first heard of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly.”
Flop 20: “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has worked well.”
Flip 21: “I believe the tax on capital gains should be zero.”
Flop 21: “It’s a tax cut for fat cats.”
Flip 22: “These carbon emission limits will provide real and immediate progress.”
Flop 22: “Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore.”
Flip 23: “Relative to the leading candidates, some people see me as being more conservative.”
Flop 23: “I’m not the most conservative candidate.”
Flip 24: “It does take a village.”
Flop 24: “It takes a family.”
Flip 25: “I don’t line up with the NRA.”
Flop 25: “I’m a member of the [NRA].”
Flip 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery…”
Flop 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.”
Flip 27: “…the costs of health care will be reduced.”
Flop 27: “We were unable to deal with… health care costs in Massachusetts.”
Flip 28: “If Massachusetts succeeds in implementing it, then that will be a model for the nation.”
Flop 28: “What works in one state may not be the answer for another.”
I believe that Colbert has already explained these apparent inconsistencies, ericb : Romney isn't a flip flopper. Romeny is simply the first quantum candidate.
His official position or personal opinion collapses into a specific state when observed by the body public via television. Yet, any measurement collapse along one basis yields a superposition with respect to the other, meaning you cannot observe either official position and personal opinion without disrupting the other in particular.
Oh, "Quantum Romney" yields 1.7 million google hits, btw.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:25 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
His official position or personal opinion collapses into a specific state when observed by the body public via television. Yet, any measurement collapse along one basis yields a superposition with respect to the other, meaning you cannot observe either official position and personal opinion without disrupting the other in particular.
Oh, "Quantum Romney" yields 1.7 million google hits, btw.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:25 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
I just saw this santorum tweet from last year. lol
George Takei has a 1500 comment facebook thread spilling the news about santorum dropping out.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:41 PM on April 10, 2012
George Takei has a 1500 comment facebook thread spilling the news about santorum dropping out.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:41 PM on April 10, 2012
jeffburdges: George Takei has a 1500 comment facebook thread spilling the news about santorum dropping out.
Unfortunately it looks like about half of those comments are from ignorant, angry fucks who just want to spew venom about... well, anything, apparently.
Ugh.
posted by tzikeh at 4:50 PM on April 10, 2012
Unfortunately it looks like about half of those comments are from ignorant, angry fucks who just want to spew venom about... well, anything, apparently.
Ugh.
posted by tzikeh at 4:50 PM on April 10, 2012
The winning comment on Twitter:
NO SORRY, SANTORUM, YOU MUST CARRY YOUR DEAD PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TO FULL TERM.posted by Malor at 5:19 PM on April 10, 2012 [15 favorites]
Yes, facebook makes skipping the useless drivel needlessly painful, but I found a few gems like :
"It was an epic battle between Man On Dog and Dog On Roof. Dog On Roof prevailed."
George Takei is probably the best reason to have a facebook account, btw.
posted by jeffburdges at 5:58 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
"It was an epic battle between Man On Dog and Dog On Roof. Dog On Roof prevailed."
George Takei is probably the best reason to have a facebook account, btw.
posted by jeffburdges at 5:58 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
Wow, this post has been open for almost an hour and nobody's done that "cat on the instant messenger" thing. A bold show of restraint!
posted by jbickers at 3:31 PM on April 10 [+] [!]
Enough about Santorum, tell me more about these kitties.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:38 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by jbickers at 3:31 PM on April 10 [+] [!]
Enough about Santorum, tell me more about these kitties.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:38 PM on April 10, 2012
I understand that his daughter is critically ill and taken a severe turn for the worse.
That's both very sad and completely irrelevant to how much of a shit candidate he is.
He did (only) one thing that I completely respect: he did NOT trot out his daughter as a campaign prop. Unlike another GOP hopeful from a few years ago.
And if spending time with his family is the reason he dropped out, then I have a second thing to respect him for. It is nice to see someone realize that something is more important than politics.
posted by gjc at 6:49 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
That's both very sad and completely irrelevant to how much of a shit candidate he is.
He did (only) one thing that I completely respect: he did NOT trot out his daughter as a campaign prop. Unlike another GOP hopeful from a few years ago.
And if spending time with his family is the reason he dropped out, then I have a second thing to respect him for. It is nice to see someone realize that something is more important than politics.
posted by gjc at 6:49 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is positive news for North Carolina. A poorly worded constitutional amendment asserting "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State" is on the ballot for the May 8 primary. Gay marriage is already illegal, of course; this would additionally enshrine it in the state constitution, using language never seen in any other state - language so vague it could affect legal arrangements between unmarried straight couples, among other unintended side effects.
Santorum dropping out probably won't be enough to counter the cumulative effect of all the homophobic preachers who'll exhort their flocks to vote the Sunday before the election, but the lack of any kind of serious Republican presidential contest will almost certainly help make the final vote closer. At this point, I figure anything closer than a 45-55% defeat for gay equality in a Southern US state can be taken as a clear sign of progress.
posted by mediareport at 6:50 PM on April 10, 2012
Santorum dropping out probably won't be enough to counter the cumulative effect of all the homophobic preachers who'll exhort their flocks to vote the Sunday before the election, but the lack of any kind of serious Republican presidential contest will almost certainly help make the final vote closer. At this point, I figure anything closer than a 45-55% defeat for gay equality in a Southern US state can be taken as a clear sign of progress.
posted by mediareport at 6:50 PM on April 10, 2012
He will be back in 2016.
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
Here's my fear:
Romny is, in very twisted relative terms, the moderate candidate. He loses to Obama, then, come 2016, the message may well be "we didn't go conservative enough." So, Santorum (or worse) gets nominated.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
Here's my fear:
Romny is, in very twisted relative terms, the moderate candidate. He loses to Obama, then, come 2016, the message may well be "we didn't go conservative enough." So, Santorum (or worse) gets nominated.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:02 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Could be Clinton vs Bush in 2016. America loves its political dynasties.
posted by Talez at 7:16 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by Talez at 7:16 PM on April 10, 2012
Clinton would be, what, almost 70 years old in 2016? I don't think she's even going to run. 2008 was her year.
posted by Justinian at 7:29 PM on April 10, 2012
posted by Justinian at 7:29 PM on April 10, 2012
Here's my fear:
Romny is, in very twisted relative terms, the moderate candidate. He loses to Obama, then, come 2016, the message may well be "we didn't go conservative enough." So, Santorum (or worse) gets nominated.
Actually I think that is very likely, if not Santorum then someone else running hard hard right. And we will continue to see this and have the narrative pushed rightward until a hard right candidate gets the nomination and loses big time. If Romeny loses this year it will be in part because he so absolutely embraced the hard right in the primaries (turning off moderates), but he is not hard right enough for the actual base to believe what he says as truth. The only way Romeny wins ifs if indeed he can have a convincing etch-a-sketch moment and pivot back to centrist territory and convince enough women and moderate voters he actually isn't all he spent 4 + months trying to convince primary voters he IS. That spokesman was getting to the absolute truth about primaries vs general elections, but no one likes to admit it in public. Big problem for Romeny this year is how tuned in many people outside the primary was/where, so etch-a-sketching (what all candidates do) is going to be harder, especially with Obama already engaging in the race to keep the pressure on Romney.
FWIW I think Romney is going to end up losing, pretty badly. These primary months have really exposed a lot of flaws in a candidate that has spent way too much time wanting to be president. After all this time he still has a Biden like propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth without Biden's actual charisma.
So... as scary as it would have been, I was actually rooting for Santorum to win, although he has no real shot at it with Gingrich splitting the vote and Romeny throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into the race. I think Santorum is who the GOP should have stood behind if they wanted someone that actually represented their values. Yes, there was duplicity and inconstancy in his campaign, but that was normal politician pandering and obtuseness, compared to Romney he was a virtual pillar of conviction, I fucking hated nearly everything he espouses, but he was the most honest candidate the GOP had this year. I think he would have gotten pummeled in November and no one would be able to argue he wasn't conservative enough and THEN the GOP might have started back on the path to, if not rationality, at least some plateau of less rabidness.
posted by edgeways at 7:34 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
Romny is, in very twisted relative terms, the moderate candidate. He loses to Obama, then, come 2016, the message may well be "we didn't go conservative enough." So, Santorum (or worse) gets nominated.
Actually I think that is very likely, if not Santorum then someone else running hard hard right. And we will continue to see this and have the narrative pushed rightward until a hard right candidate gets the nomination and loses big time. If Romeny loses this year it will be in part because he so absolutely embraced the hard right in the primaries (turning off moderates), but he is not hard right enough for the actual base to believe what he says as truth. The only way Romeny wins ifs if indeed he can have a convincing etch-a-sketch moment and pivot back to centrist territory and convince enough women and moderate voters he actually isn't all he spent 4 + months trying to convince primary voters he IS. That spokesman was getting to the absolute truth about primaries vs general elections, but no one likes to admit it in public. Big problem for Romeny this year is how tuned in many people outside the primary was/where, so etch-a-sketching (what all candidates do) is going to be harder, especially with Obama already engaging in the race to keep the pressure on Romney.
FWIW I think Romney is going to end up losing, pretty badly. These primary months have really exposed a lot of flaws in a candidate that has spent way too much time wanting to be president. After all this time he still has a Biden like propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth without Biden's actual charisma.
So... as scary as it would have been, I was actually rooting for Santorum to win, although he has no real shot at it with Gingrich splitting the vote and Romeny throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into the race. I think Santorum is who the GOP should have stood behind if they wanted someone that actually represented their values. Yes, there was duplicity and inconstancy in his campaign, but that was normal politician pandering and obtuseness, compared to Romney he was a virtual pillar of conviction, I fucking hated nearly everything he espouses, but he was the most honest candidate the GOP had this year. I think he would have gotten pummeled in November and no one would be able to argue he wasn't conservative enough and THEN the GOP might have started back on the path to, if not rationality, at least some plateau of less rabidness.
posted by edgeways at 7:34 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
he still has a Biden like propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth without Biden's actual charisma.
How bad do you have to be that Biden's got more charisma?
posted by rough ashlar at 8:17 PM on April 10, 2012
How bad do you have to be that Biden's got more charisma?
posted by rough ashlar at 8:17 PM on April 10, 2012
By the way, I'd just like to take this opportunity to say I hate the formulation "flip-flopper". Aside from being a hideous affront to the English language it was first used in 2004 to tar Kerry as some kind of underhanded manipulator, but is really a synonym for "changing your mind about a policy," which is possible for both citizens and candidates to do without being underhanded or evil or hypocritical. If you think Romney has changed his platform because he talks out of both sides of his mouth in an attempt to make everyone happy, I'm sure there are better ways to convince people than to call him flip-flopper. Ugh. Flip-flopper! It's like you expect me to wear him to the beach!
posted by to sir with millipedes at 8:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by to sir with millipedes at 8:20 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Flip-flopper! It's like you expect me to wear him to the beach!
MittFlops' Makers Look To Capitalize On Romney's Flip-Flopping
MittFlops' Makers Look To Capitalize On Romney's Flip-Flopping
Finally, footwear for the indecisive -- or those who decide often, but then change their minds.posted by ericb at 8:33 PM on April 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
A pair of politically active pals in Los Angeles have created MittFlops, thong sandals that represent the seemingly flip-flopping positions of Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney.
Now you can be fashion-forward on Super Tuesday, even if your tootsies get a little cold. Democrat Ross Wachsman and Republican Christine Dizon developed the flip-flops to express their disenchantment with Romney, who holds a slim lead in the race for the GOP nomination. One model features Romney's mug with "Flip" and "Flop" on opposing feet.
.... For a pair of across-the-aisle friends, Wachsman and Dizon sure seem united in their opposition to the former Massachusetts governor. "What to do with a man like Mitt Romney?" their press release reads. "A man who changes his beliefs faster than a prison escapee ditches a jumpsuit. A man who declared his support for a woman's right to choose then denied being pro choice; stood for healthcare insurance reform then tried to crush it; advocated environmental control, only to campaign against it. Where does he belong -- the White House? No way. The better place for him: under your foot."
ericb: "Some of Mitt Romney’s FlipFlops:
Of course, a few of them aren't really flip flops at all. They could be considered clarification of the previous statement, rather than contradictory. For example:
Flip 7: “I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.”
Flop 7: “There’s no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.”
Flip 18: “The TARP program… was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.”
Flop 18: “When government is… bailing out banks… we have every good reason to be alarmed.”
Flip 19: “I’m going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.”
Flop 19: “Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.”
Flip 20: “When I first heard of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly.”
Flop 20: “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has worked well.”
Flip 23: “Relative to the leading candidates, some people see me as being more conservative.”
Flop 23: “I’m not the most conservative candidate.”
Flip 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery…”
Flop 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.”"
posted by zarq at 8:34 PM on April 10, 2012
Of course, a few of them aren't really flip flops at all. They could be considered clarification of the previous statement, rather than contradictory. For example:
Flip 7: “I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.”
Flop 7: “There’s no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.”
Flip 18: “The TARP program… was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.”
Flop 18: “When government is… bailing out banks… we have every good reason to be alarmed.”
Flip 19: “I’m going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.”
Flop 19: “Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.”
Flip 20: “When I first heard of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly.”
Flop 20: “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has worked well.”
Flip 23: “Relative to the leading candidates, some people see me as being more conservative.”
Flop 23: “I’m not the most conservative candidate.”
Flip 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery…”
Flop 26: “The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.”"
posted by zarq at 8:34 PM on April 10, 2012
How bad do you have to be that Biden's got more charisma?
Dude's got charisma.
You may disagree with him on policy (and since you're here evidently flogging the always-dead horse that was the Ron Paul campaign, I imagine you do), but taking a swipe at Biden's charisma and political chops is a really weird angle to take. Insofar as it doesn't seem to be based in reality.
posted by joe lisboa at 8:35 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Dude's got charisma.
You may disagree with him on policy (and since you're here evidently flogging the always-dead horse that was the Ron Paul campaign, I imagine you do), but taking a swipe at Biden's charisma and political chops is a really weird angle to take. Insofar as it doesn't seem to be based in reality.
posted by joe lisboa at 8:35 PM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Aside from being a hideous affront to the English language it was first used in 2004 to tar Kerry as some kind of underhanded manipulator ...
Actually, the term, as it pertains to U.S. presidetial politics ...
Actually, the term, as it pertains to U.S. presidetial politics ...
[The term] was also in the 1976 election, when President Gerald Ford used the phrase against his opponent Jimmy Carter. In the 1988 U.S. presidential election, Michael Dukakis used the term against opponent Richard Gephardt, saying, "There's a flip-flopper over here" about Gephardt.posted by ericb at 8:39 PM on April 10, 2012
Could be Clinton vs Bush in 2016.
She has stated unequivocally that she will never run for President again. While some politicians are known for saying that, and then running for President, I believe her 100%.
FWIW I think Romney is going to end up losing, pretty badly.
One can only hope, but when the Supreme Court announces in June that Obamacare is Unconstitutional, that's going to be a huge, huge hit to the Obama campaign. (Even though Romney signed universal health care into law in Massachusetts. Nobodybothers with facts remembers that shit anyway.)
posted by tzikeh at 9:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
She has stated unequivocally that she will never run for President again. While some politicians are known for saying that, and then running for President, I believe her 100%.
FWIW I think Romney is going to end up losing, pretty badly.
One can only hope, but when the Supreme Court announces in June that Obamacare is Unconstitutional, that's going to be a huge, huge hit to the Obama campaign. (Even though Romney signed universal health care into law in Massachusetts. Nobody
posted by tzikeh at 9:12 PM on April 10, 2012 [3 favorites]
GOP Operative: Rick?
Rick: Yes?
GOP Operative: Rick
GOP Operative: Rick
GOP Operative: RICK
Rick: WHAT?
GOP Operative: the party feels dead inside, Rick.
posted by davejay at 9:38 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
Rick: Yes?
GOP Operative: Rick
GOP Operative: Rick
GOP Operative: RICK
Rick: WHAT?
GOP Operative: the party feels dead inside, Rick.
posted by davejay at 9:38 PM on April 10, 2012 [4 favorites]
She has stated unequivocally that she will never run for President again. While some politicians are known for saying that, and then running for President, I believe her 100%.
Yeah, she's too busy making up her own real submission to the Texts From Hillary Tumblr to worry about that president thing.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:51 PM on April 10, 2012
Yeah, she's too busy making up her own real submission to the Texts From Hillary Tumblr to worry about that president thing.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:51 PM on April 10, 2012
Romny is, in very twisted relative terms, the moderate candidate. He loses to Obama, then, come 2016, the message may well be "we didn't go conservative enough." So, Santorum (or worse) gets nominated.
Is that a problem? The moderate Republican doesn't get elected this year. Do you think the extremist nutjob Republican will do any better four years down the line?
posted by daveje at 1:06 AM on April 11, 2012
Is that a problem? The moderate Republican doesn't get elected this year. Do you think the extremist nutjob Republican will do any better four years down the line?
posted by daveje at 1:06 AM on April 11, 2012
I think there's little to no chance of this, with Christie, Jindal, Jeb Bush, etc. on the horizon.
I find it odd that a conservative party seems to just love untested up and comers.
posted by gjc at 7:23 AM on April 11, 2012
I find it odd that a conservative party seems to just love untested up and comers.
posted by gjc at 7:23 AM on April 11, 2012
Did this announcement give Obama a bump or slump on Intrade?
posted by Theta States at 7:44 AM on April 11, 2012
posted by Theta States at 7:44 AM on April 11, 2012
Looks like a slight bump. Corresponding slight slump for the a Republican presidential win.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:57 AM on April 11, 2012
posted by jabberjaw at 11:57 AM on April 11, 2012
In fairness, none of those quotes are saying "God told me I'm definitely going to win". Maybe God just wanted a lot of people in the field this year who would give him big ups during the primary process?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 12:29 PM on April 11, 2012
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 12:29 PM on April 11, 2012
Maybe God wanted a lot of people in the field to make Obama look better by comparison.
posted by brundlefly at 12:44 PM on April 11, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 12:44 PM on April 11, 2012
Decani: "Our glorious Lord strikes again."
Something something, Groucho Marx, any club...yeah. Anyone who thinks God has personally told them to run for Pres needs to be involuntarily committed.
posted by notsnot at 12:57 PM on April 11, 2012
Something something, Groucho Marx, any club...yeah. Anyone who thinks God has personally told them to run for Pres needs to be involuntarily committed.
posted by notsnot at 12:57 PM on April 11, 2012
Nobody I know under the age of 35 voted for McCain, and yet 35% of those under the age of 35 who voted in the 2008 presidential election did so. It's reminiscent of the "I don't know how Richard Nixon got elected; nobody I know voted for him!"
I believe Bev at blackboxvoting.com has a few ideas that might explain it.
Claims of -16000 votes in Florida and in Maine how places that had votes/voters showed zero and how Waukesha county "found" a bunch of votes for Scott Walker might have the same root cause.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:40 PM on April 11, 2012
I believe Bev at blackboxvoting.com has a few ideas that might explain it.
Claims of -16000 votes in Florida and in Maine how places that had votes/voters showed zero and how Waukesha county "found" a bunch of votes for Scott Walker might have the same root cause.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:40 PM on April 11, 2012
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posted by xingcat at 11:46 AM on April 10, 2012 [1 favorite]