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You are here: Home / Politics / Crazification Factor / To achieve a goal, you have to set a goal…

To achieve a goal, you have to set a goal…

by Dennis G.|  January 21, 20128:06 pm| 287 Comments

This post is in: Crazification Factor, Election 2012, Open Threads

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The first real primary where all the participants are members of the Republican Party base is done. Newt wins and the Mittens coronation tour is over. Trench warfare now begins.

Iowa and New Hampshire will let anybody in to play Republican-for-a-day and influence the results, but South Carolina is different and only the true faithful participate. South Carolina is to Wingnutopia what Mecca is to Islam. In this primary, the 27 percenters are a majority. South Carolina is a center of neo-Confederate thought and conspiracy theories about white victimhood at the hands of the Federal Government The Union are fed to the base from childhood.

Lee Atwater was from here and learned his political skills from Strom Thurmond who learned his trade from “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman who learned his world view as a Red Shirt night rider and a participant in the massacre of Freemen during the destruction of their settlement of Hamburg. From Tillman to DeMint there is a straight line of racism, white privileged and myths of white victimhood that informs the political DNA of South Carolina Republican Primary voters.

If you know that, then it cannot be a surprise at all that Newt Gingrich has surged in this state and that Romney and Santorum are viewed as Yankee copperhead carpetbaggers at best.

Newt knows how to talk the code and how to barely conceal his contempt for the Federal Government The Union and the descendants of people who were once property. He is especially good at code talking about President Obama and the Mainstream Yankee Press.

No surprise he is connecting with his tribe.

A week ago he was suppose to be a dead man walking, but he was able to claw back because he had a goal and a base that would get his back when he let out his Rebel yell. An aide described Newt’s goal to the WP:

“The goal is to get rid of Romney,” Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said. “Our goal is to remove Mitt Romney from the competitive ranks.”

Newt’s victory in South Carolina will go a long way towards meeting that goal. Yes, Romney has a lot of money and backing from the Party elites, but his doesn’t have the neo-Confederates and the 27 percenters who are the base of the Party–they belong to Newt. And if The Professor can mobilize them to his cause and raise some cash, Romney will stand as much of a chance against Gingrich as Mike Castle had against Christine O’Donnell.

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Good luck with that November.

Cheers

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Previous Post: « Newt Wins
Next Post: They don’t look real to me, in fact, they look so strange »

Reader Interactions

287Comments

  1. 1.

    Mustang Bobby

    January 21, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    Listening to Mitt’s speech in S.C. Damn, what a lying sack of dog shit. So, when will he go all Newt race-baiting to win?

  2. 2.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Yeah, this is certainly NOT a “Yes We Can” speech is it.

    Romney sticking to his attack Obama schidt too.

    That’s the problem Mittens…YOU ARE NOT THE NOMINEE YET.

    Dude doesn’t look like a fighter up there.

    Try watching him without the sound guys. He looks like he’s been crying and he looks damn near defeated.

    Compared to Obama after his big defeat in New Hampshire Romney kinda looks like weak dweeb.

  3. 3.

    JPL

    January 21, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    I don’t see how Newt wins. His code words just don’t play that well in California and the North East. When you look at the primary calendar how does he do it? Now I do think he wounds Romney which is good news but Romney wounds himself. His concession speech was awful.

  4. 4.

    Zagloba

    January 21, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    I even wonder how well Newt’s version of the Republican Party is consistent with the self-image of your average peckerwood here in TN, or the rest of the South. I really think that kind of thing could backfire on the GOP, to the tune of desolidifying the South.

  5. 5.

    Veritas

    January 21, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    Plan “A” was to win the nomination with the one-two knockout punch of IA/NH victories to spring into South Carolina.

    Tomorrow, Plan “B” goes into effect instead, starting with Firewall Florida and more Super PAC advertising.

    Hmmm, I wonder if Karl Rove could be persuaded to come on board?

    Romney is in it for the long haul, with the organization, the ground game, the money, the insider support, and Super PAC cash, meanwhile Newt can’t even get on the ballot in all 50 states.

    Who would YOU bet on?

    RealityCheck

  6. 6.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Short SC GOP Electorate: If we can’t beat Obama, at least we can go down ugly.

    .

  7. 7.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    With 21% of the vote counted, Newt has a 15 point lead over the Rombot. I’m sure that this will, in Newt’s mind, validate his approach towards Romney. Monday’s debate will be highly highly amusing.

  8. 8.

    PeakVT

    January 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    What happened to the other Catholic Evangelical? He’s gotta be a tad disappointed tonight.

  9. 9.

    Yutsano

    January 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    @Veritas:

    Who would YOU bet on?

    A brokered convention. Newt’s gonna get pretty much all the delegates in the South and possibly the Midwest. And Willard looks terrible right now going into Florida. Which is also a closed primary.

  10. 10.

    BruceFromOhio

    January 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    “The goal is to get rid of Romney,” Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said. “Our goal is to remove Mitt Romney from the competitive ranks.”

    All they know is how to destroy shit. Not to build, or lead, or govern, or help anyone but their own Gaia-damned sorry ass twisted motherfucking two-bit criminal selves. Each and every single one is the demonstrative anti-leader.

    Let them bloody each other in public, sure. The challenge is overcoming the blind hatred, fear and destruction wrought by the faithful in the their wake. Sure its fun while the mob tears at itself! But… one day they wake up and take up the torches and pitchforks against everyone else.

  11. 11.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    I can no longer look at Ron Paul without hearing Stephen Colbert say on Morning Joe:

    “ya know if you say Ron Paul’s real name he HAS to teach you how to spin hay into gold!”

    LOL!

  12. 12.

    donovong

    January 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    SC is an open primary. Anybody can vote.

  13. 13.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    @Veritas:

    I’ll bet against the loser you’re betting on, dumbfuck.

    I’ll win.

  14. 14.

    tc

    January 21, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    The head of Gingrich’s SuperPAC is giving the former speaker credit for the gains that happened under the Clinton administration. But if that’s his logic, then isn’t Speaker Boehner equally responsible for whatever the Republicans are complaining about now?

  15. 15.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    @JPL:

    I don’t see how Newt wins. His code words just don’t play that well in California and the North East.

    If the GOP base subconsciously knows they can’t win (they would never consciously admit it to themselves), then they may choose to make the race as ugly and bigoted as possible.

    In that scenario, Gingrich has a shot.

    .

  16. 16.

    Chris from Arlington, VA

    January 21, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    Agree with you on the basis of Newt’s surge in South Carolina.

    But did you mean “Strom Thurmond?” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond

  17. 17.

    Veritas

    January 21, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    @Yutsano:

    You’re living in fantasyland. Gingrich can’t win any of the BIG winner take all states–California, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and yes, Florida. Newt can’t compete in ANY of those.

  18. 18.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    @PeakVT: Unfortunate Google Problem appears to be hanging on to third place, which is a shame. I was kind of hoping that he’d place fourth and be forced to drop out.

  19. 19.

    PeakVT

    January 21, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    adding… All those fundy leaders who backed him don’t look so hot right now, either.

    Also, too: 100 quatloos to anyone who can fix teh the edit button.

  20. 20.

    Lojasmo

    January 21, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    @Veritas:

    Who would YOU bet on?

    LOL. I would bet on a sitting president.

    Roast you in november, bitch.

  21. 21.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Dennis, I will say again, I didn’t think Newt would have any legs until you made a post describing him as the perfect combination of all the sickness we’ve seen out of the GOP in the last 30 years. Major props to you for calling his longevity in this race. I have never been convinced Romney had anything locked in, and yet, I still am not totally sure that Newt can really go all the way to get the nomination. I can buy a scenario where we see a brokered convention and Paul and/or Palin are in as conservative third and/or fourth party options…Anyway, since you lined it out, I have always believed that Newt would be a complete nuisance to Romney and a bad, bad spoiler in the Southern states. It remains to be seen how he will play in other regions of the country. Even though the GOP is greatly diminished as a real force in other parts of the country, the non-Southern states still have the same number of delegates.

    Jeebus, this seems like the first time in a long time that regional factionalism is really going to play a significant role in presidential politics.

  22. 22.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Veritas:

    Plan “A” was to win the nomination with the one-two knockout punch of IA/NH victories to spring into South Carolina.

    You said Romney would win IA, NH, and SC. But he didn’t!

    You lied to us and destroyed our hopes and dreams! How will we ever believe you again?

    .

  23. 23.

    Lojasmo

    January 21, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    @Veritas:

    Hmm. Those all sound like very democratic states to me.

  24. 24.

    cmorenc

    January 21, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    @Yutsano:

    A brokered convention.

    This may be the GOP establishment’s pipe dream if Gingrich continues to slice up Willard and amass a substantial number of delegates, but they’re going to find it extremely difficult to actually carry through brokering the nomination to someone who didn’t actually run in any of the primaries. Tea Party types who supported Newt will likely rebel at party elders telling them in effect that children, you had your fun now it’s time for the establishment adults in the room to make important decisions. Enough of them will either stay home in November or bolt to a third-party candidate to make the election a nightmare wipeout for the GOP. IMHO the GOP is stuck with whichever of the two, Willard or Newt, has the most delegates coming into the convention.

  25. 25.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    @JGabriel: Don’t worry. He’ll scatter some of that sweet Unlimited Corporate Cash around and we’ll all swoon with awe. It’ll be good; you’ll see.

  26. 26.

    Surreal American

    January 21, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    @JGabriel:

    You lied to us and destroyed our hopes and dreams! How will we ever believe you again?

    Don’t exactly recall the time that we believed him before, but oh well.

  27. 27.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    @Veritas:

    Gingrich can’t win… Pennsylvania.

    I assure you Newt can Pennsylvania. Maybe he wins it, maybe he don’t, but there’s a reason they it Pennsyltucky.

    .

  28. 28.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    … call it Pennsyltucky.

    (Please to be restoring editing, John Cole?)

    .

  29. 29.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    there has actually been no official announcement, just that John King’s heard from his “sources” that in FL Romney will have the endorsement of Jeb Bush.

    So FL peeps how big of a deal will Jeb’s endorsement be?

    And will Newt then attack on “Bush policies of the past” when it comes to Romney.

    Like I said earlier though, so far Newt hasn’t had any real endorsements from the establishment. Romney’s picked up most of those and Newt still shellacked Romney in the “first conservative” primary contest.

  30. 30.

    Dennis G.

    January 21, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    @Chris from Arlington, VA: Stupid typo on my part. Fixed. Thanks

  31. 31.

    dmbeaster

    January 21, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    @JGabriel:

    If we can’t beat Obama, at least we can go down ugly.

    Marshall at TPM had an editorial on this, and how the 27% faction actually believes Gingrich can do it, as they think he’ll clean up in debates. So I really think this is up there with global warming denialism – you can’t tell the base that Gingrich cant win, as they just chose to believe he can. Its Faux News blowback – these people cant perceive reality.

  32. 32.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Oh good Lord, is Ron Paul STILL talking? He talked longer than Romney did and Romney probably came in 2nd.

  33. 33.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    @Yutsano:

    I dunno, Yutsano, maybe, but I am not sure that Gingrich is really gonna play here in the Midwest. Maybe the Southern-connected portions of the Midwest, I will grant you. Southern IL, Southern OH, Southern IN, yes, culturally, that is his country…I can buy that, but not up here in Chicagoland, not in WI, not in MI, not really in IA (as we’ve seen already) or MN. In other words, East of the Mississippi, in the rust belt, he’s not gonna play as well as Romney with GOP voters. However, I would agree Gingrich might have more of a shot in Midwest states that are West of the Mississippi (MN excepted) – MO, KS, the Dakotas. I guess we shall see.

  34. 34.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    January 21, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    But Romney’s the only one who has ever won BOTH Iowa AND New Hampshire!

  35. 35.

    Chris

    January 21, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    Schadenfreudy part of me is thrilled that Romney lost, and kind of hopes he goes on to lose the nomination. The guy really is the political version of a Winklevoss twin. Few people, even in national, Republican politics, are as badly in need of being slapped in the face with the fact that you can’t always get what you want, no matter how well-bred and rich your family may be.

  36. 36.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    @dmbeaster:

    Marshall at TPM had an editorial on this, and how the 27% faction actually believes Gingrich can do it, as they think he’ll clean up in debates.

    Sullivan said the same thing, and I think they’re right. Call it the Teleprompter Faction. They actually believe their own rhetoric about Obama being a simpleton who affirmative actioned and white guilted his way into the White House. That’s who Huckabee was babbling to last night about Obama’s grades. Newtie actually made a teleprompter joke in one of the fifteen debates of last week.

  37. 37.

    MildlyAmusedRainbowPerson

    January 21, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    @Veritas:

    I am betting on Obama. He’s got game. Mittens got nothing.

  38. 38.

    David Koch

    January 21, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Mittens still bumping up at his glass ceiling of 26% of the vote.

  39. 39.

    liberal

    January 21, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    OT: who here knew that Santorum’s wife dated an outspoken abortionist for many years?

  40. 40.

    PreservedKillick

    January 21, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    Its Faux News blowback – these people cant perceive reality.

    At some point, the GOP is going to realize that Fox news is their worst enemy. Fox has whipped their base into what can only be describe as insanity – and it is entirely *not* in Fox’s best interest for the republicans to be anything other than a vocal minority. It’s much better for ratings.

  41. 41.

    JPL

    January 21, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    @dmbeaster: Sarah’s debate was awful and McCain was looking for Mr. Puddles and the networks called the debates as equal.

  42. 42.

    scav

    January 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Minor Huzzah! Cain’s ahead of Perry!

  43. 43.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Huckabee actually knows better. He is not a stupid man. A racist turd? Yup. But not stupid. If he was stupid, he’d be in the race right now.

  44. 44.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    @Old Dan and Little Ann:

    But Romney’s the only one who has ever won BOTH Iowa AND New Hampshire!

    Don’t forget the asterisk next to that Iowa “win”.

  45. 45.

    Martin

    January 21, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Ok. 40% for Newt.

    These people aren’t electing a President. They’re electing a martyr. That’s the only thing that makes sense. SC voters know that Obama is going to win, so they’re going to advance the guy who will go down in the greatest ball of flames and glory, and if they’re really lucky, Newt will call the President a nigger on national tv.

  46. 46.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    OMG! They all seem to be wearing sweater vest other than Santorum himself.

  47. 47.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    @JPL: and David Gregory said about an hour ago that Mitt Romney’s tax evasion is setting up the (I think I got this exactly): “class warfare debate president Obama wants”.

  48. 48.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    @efgoldman:

    I know! That’s what makes this all so beautiful.

  49. 49.

    Zagloba

    January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    @liberal: OT: who here knew that Santorum’s wife dated an outspoken abortionist for many years?

    Um, all of us, like a week ago?

  50. 50.

    David Koch

    January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    the Exit Poll was amazingly accurate. It predicted the final margins 2 and 1/2 hours before the polls closed.

    https://balloon-juice.com/2012/01/21/break-on-through-to-the-other-side/#comment-2998798

  51. 51.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    @scav:

    Minor Huzzah! Cain’s ahead of Perry!

    It’s those damn SuperPAC ads; it’s all their fault.

  52. 52.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    Right now, the GOP primaries are about media momentum. Until Super Tuesday, there just aren’t that many actual voting at the convention delegates at stake.

    So Romney’s still got a good shot at the nomination. After all, it’s just him and Ron Paul running in Virginia, due to Virginia’s oppressive laws that require nominees to do at least as much as Lyndon LaRouche did in 2008, which Newt could not do.

    So talk of a brokered convention is Villager pr0n, at this point. Super Tuesday will give us a much better picture.

    The problem for the OvenMittBot is that much of SuperTuesday is in the South, which hates Yankee carpetbagger scum, and loves them some dogwhistle with a klaxon Noot. Noot might get some actual convention delegate momentum going.

  53. 53.

    Surreal American

    January 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    I am betting on Obama. He’s got game. Mittens got nothing.

    Mittens can barely find the court.

  54. 54.

    Name

    January 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    Just because northern states are Democratic states doesn’t mean the state-level GOP are moderates. Remember, Delaware nominated O’Donnell last time around, and that’s a state where- outside of its Dixiecrat zone- the GOP controls about as much as the Libertarians control.

  55. 55.

    Gilles de Rais

    January 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    Who would YOU bet on?

    RealityCheck

    @Veritas: Don’t care. I AM curious as to why you troll over at StarbucksGossip.com.

  56. 56.

    Emerald

    January 21, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    @Veritas: Oh, I’m not sure Newt can’t win the R primary in California. We have some of the wingnuttiest wingers here. Free Republic is based in Fresno, and it’s gone all out for Newt.

    “Decline to State” folks can vote in the primaries, though, so that might have an effect. Alsotoo, there is a hunk o’ time between now and then. Plenty of time for Newt to explode again.

  57. 57.

    Quarks

    January 21, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    I kinda want to know who the reported 186 people who voted for Bachmann are…

    …no, on second thought, I really don’t.

    But go Cain! At this rate, you may just break 1% of the vote total. This is great news for Comedy Central.

  58. 58.

    Yutsano

    January 21, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    @Donut:

    I am not sure that Gingrich is really gonna play here in the Midwest

    I was thinking more Kansas/Missouri/Nebraska and the like. States with large fundie populations and little to no Mormon presence. Willard will be a tough sell there. Newton can do it better there I think.

  59. 59.

    Taylor

    January 21, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    I assume the elites now have to take down Gingrich before he does any more damage to their chosen nominee. Easier said than done, the ABC hit job drew no obvious blood.

  60. 60.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    Whoa, Newt Gingrich looks to have swept ALL 25 of SC delegates!!! Methinks Romney will have to start attacking Newt instead of Obama!

  61. 61.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    COLE! EDIT BUTTON?

    @Donut:

    What I wanted to edit and add is no one GOP candidate has a lock on this because these fuckers all have major problems specific to different regions. This is shaping up to be such a major clusterfuck, like we haven’t seen in looooong time in national politics. Democrats were divided in ’08, true, but not even remotely like this. I never doubted that our factions would unite under either Hillary or Barack. There are pratfalls for Obama out there, but the more the GOP cannot solidify, the worse this gets. Mittens is not improving as a candidate. He could still turn it around and find his legs again, but I dunno. He has had the kind of week that leads from bad to worse.

  62. 62.

    Chris

    January 21, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    @BruceFromOhio:

    All they know is how to destroy shit. Not to build, or lead, or govern, or help anyone but their own Gaia-damned sorry ass twisted motherfucking two-bit criminal selves. Each and every single one is the demonstrative anti-leader.

    Well… yes.

    First time I ever heard fascism explained in the simplest way possible was (of course) on a Star Trek TOS episode, where the “Jew” bitterly tells the Enterprise crew that the “Nazis” on the planet need them, so that they’ll have someone to hate, because their entire system flies to pieces when they don’t have anyone to hate.

    You see it played out it most nationalist/identity-politics-based movements on Earth in some way or other, and definitely with the American right wing. You saw it played out in the 1990s when the Soviet Union fell and quite a few of them were running around like chicken with their heads cut off looking for a new Great Bogeyman to fight. No big surprise that the same thing happens in intra-party disputes.

  63. 63.

    KG

    January 21, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    @Emerald: If the nomination isn’t decided by June when we vote here in Cali… oh. my. gawd. Seriously, that would be an absolute nightmare.

    Personally, I think there’s a long, long way to go now. Florida is important, but it’s only 50 delegates out of 1400+ needed.

    Rick Santorum is actually talking a decent game about opportunity and education for all. It almost sounds reasonable. But I know too much about him to believe a word of it.

  64. 64.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Jeb Bush Not Endorsing Mitt Romney After All?

    Reporters are throwing cold water on CNN’s claim that Mitt Romney is a lock to receive former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s endorsement. Both the Washington Post and Huffington Post cite sources close to the ex-governor saying no announcement of support is imminent.

    John King says “Curses…punked again!”

  65. 65.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Gotcha now. And I agree with you.

  66. 66.

    Mustang Bobby

    January 21, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    The Republican Party has broken out into assholes and shit itself to death.

  67. 67.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    @Donut: I still think the haters will unite behind whoever wins the nom, Romney or Gingrich, but Gingrich is more obviously offensive to the mouth breathing low info voters known as “independents”

  68. 68.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Various reports coming in saying that Jeb Bush has *not* endorsed Mitt Romney (or anyone else). And if Newt really did make a clean sweep of the delegates, he’s actually ahead of Romney there.

  69. 69.

    Martin

    January 21, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    @efgoldman:

    You really think Newt has that little self-control?

    I think Newt believes himself to be larger than social norms. If he says it, says it with conviction and meaning, he believes he can get away with it.

    I don’t think he’d do it, but I think he believes that if anyone can do it, it’s him.

  70. 70.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Who knows who will win the GOP primary. Probably Mitt, if his money and organization can sustain the trench warfare and siege operations long enough in big states.

    But maybe the ugliness of the Newt campaign will bring out the GOP base for primaries and tip some races in states which we expect a saner and more moderate GOP primary turnout.

    My favorite part of the post was ‘trench warfare’. Oh boy! GOP primary trench warfare! I can hardly wait.

    World War I, seen from a long distance, has a certain dystopian romance about it, and WTF goes on in a GOP primary is a long distance from most sane humans.

    So, the early old school futile cavalry charges of Perry and Cain are over. We are probably entering the phase of full frontal assaults in some big states with big reactionary GOP bases that might turn the election.

    As the war grinds on, we will see massive ad assault artillery barrages, lighting the evening and early morning darkness with wave after wave of intellectual death. Brains will be destroyed without a visible mark, merely from the shock waves.

    Towards the end, if Newt can hold on the massive siege lines of the Rom forces, deadly and deep long distance raids will attempt to punch through and spread panic and disorganization in the rear echelons.

    Popcorn is probably not appropriate, but I will be watching the flickering news reels from the cratered GOP political moonscape, of lost patrols struggling up to their waists through mud and filth and lies, in horrified fascination.

    There will be horrors, though. With Newt, massive poisonous gas attacks will be a standard tactic.

  71. 71.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    OT, Reports on twitter are that Coach Joe Paterno has passed.

  72. 72.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    Santorum is running for VP

  73. 73.

    Gust Avrakotos

    January 21, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    You BJ masturbators are hilarious. Newt doesn’t have any hope of winning. You people just want to pretend it’s a horse race so you can keep the circle jerk going.

    Seems like only yesterday you people were masturbating over Failin and Chump running. Also things any reasonable person knew was never going to happen.

  74. 74.

    Egg Berry

    January 21, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Wow, CNN’s map showed Newt taking nearly everywhere but Charleston and Columbia.

  75. 75.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    You’re probably right, but I would love to see them factionalized going into their convention and see one or two independent runners step up and keep them divided and suck off support from the eventual nominee. Maybe I’m just pipe dreaming on that, but I think it’s possible they won’t unite. They kinda have had problems with that this year…I don’t like absolute predictions, and I certainly don’t know anything more than anyone else…

  76. 76.

    Mnemosyne

    January 21, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Call it the Teleprompter Faction. They actually believe their own rhetoric about Obama being a simpleton who affirmative actioned and white guilted his way into the White House.

    There is a certain percentage of white mean in this country who believe that it is literally impossible for any black man to be smarter than any white man. They genuinely think that every white guy walking around right now is smarter than Obama solely because of race.

    That percentage is getting smaller and smaller all the time, but I suspect they’re mostly Republican voters.

  77. 77.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    @jl:

    Trench warfare SUCKS. “Lousy” is a term that came about in part due to trench warfare.

    Perfect metaphor for what the GOP primary process is going to be now. The Coronation Cavalcade has been waylaid, and derailed. Sucks to be you, OvenMittBot.

  78. 78.

    KG

    January 21, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    @Martin: I could see him getting flustered when Obama gives him a rhetorical smack and Gingrich just saying something like that… maybe it won’t be the N-Bomb, but it could be something like McCain’s “that one.”

  79. 79.

    Rommie

    January 21, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Newt himself is the wildcard – he could easily insert foot in mouth and blow up all his gains.

    If Romney shows up at any more debates, which he might not, then he better have a different game plan if he doesn’t want to get Newt-d again.

  80. 80.

    Nellcote

    January 21, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    I think I just have to give up on ever understanding why candidate Obama’s comments about holding fast to guns and bibles is considered so offensive. I’ve always taken it as empathetic rather than mocking.

  81. 81.

    Judas Escargot

    January 21, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    @Gust Avrakotos:

    tl; dr. tbm.

  82. 82.

    marv

    January 21, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    I just wanted to throw in my two cent’s worth, and hope it hasn’t been pointed out already. I used to hang out with good ol’ boys from the South in the old days, and they are generally a partriarchically loyal group, but the South Carolina boys most of all. Not that I think that’s a bad thing in itself at all, but the fact is nobody can say “my daddy” like a gamecock. I think it’s why they held on to the Confederate-flag thing for so long.So when John King threw down on Mitt’s father’s honor about tax returns and asked if Mitt would do the same, the single worst word Mitt could possibly say is: Maybe. MAYBE? About your daddy? I honestly don’t see how a self-respecting redneck could ever cast a vote for Romney.

  83. 83.

    rikyrah

    January 21, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    The first real primary where all the participants are members of the Republican Party base is done. Newt wins and the Mittens coronation tour is over. Trench warfare now begins.

    Iowa and New Hampshire will let anybody in to play Republican-for-a-day and influence the results, but South Carolina is different and only the true faithful participate. South Carolina is to Wingnutopia what Mecca is to Islam.

    bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

  84. 84.

    Yutsano

    January 21, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    @Gust Avrakotos: Last time I checked Harper still had his majority. Why don’t you worry about your own country’s politics before bothering with ours? Hoser.

  85. 85.

    Yutsano

    January 21, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    There is a certain percentage of white mean in this country

    Do you mind if I salivate over this typo? :)

  86. 86.

    handsmile

    January 21, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    Let it be noted that as of 9:00pm with 58% of the vote counted, Herman Cain/Stephen Colbert has more than twice the numbers of votes of Rick Perry!

    In truth, this contest for 5th place in the South Carolina GOP primary is the only result I care about tonight.

  87. 87.

    KG

    January 21, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    @Rommie: There’s no way that Romney can ignore the debates after losing tonight. If he’d have won, I could see that approach working. But now? No way, he’d get crushed in the media, on the blogs, and at the debates – if he can’t debate Gingrich and Santorum and Paul, then how can we expect him to debate Obama? If he gets rattled like this, how can we take him seriously as a president? That narrative would destroy his campaign, in a heartbeat.

  88. 88.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Josh Marshal brings up an interesting point.

    Here’s the thing: Noot may have won SC because he’s perceived as the guy who can best put that uppity ni*CLANG* in his place. Just as that woman praised Noot for putting that uppity Wan Williams in HIS place the other day.

    Yes, they’re that fucking stupid, and racist. No doubt about it. It’s about getting the uppity ni*CLANG*. That’s what it’s about.

  89. 89.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    Josh Marshal brings up an interesting point.

    Here’s the thing: Noot may have won SC because he’s perceived as the guy who can best put that uppity ni*CLANG* in his place in a debate. Just as that woman praised Noot for putting that uppity Wan Williams in HIS place the other day.

    Yes, they’re that fucking stupid, and racist. No doubt about it. It’s about getting the uppity ni*CLANG*. That’s what it’s about.

  90. 90.

    Surreal American

    January 21, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    There is a certain percentage of white mean in this country

    I was about to call attention to your typo, but decided that your variant of that word’s spelling works extremely well in context.

  91. 91.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    Oh, I know this is shocking, but FYWP is behaving badly. I can’t tell anyone to nuke the duplicate above privately, since, AS HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS, the edit function is GONE.

    Yes, I’m yelling.

  92. 92.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    So, I’m guessing maybe the Romney campaign is regretting running those ads which ended with the tagline “On Saturday, South Carolina picks a President”.

  93. 93.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    @Yutsano: I was wondering if Mnemo meant mean whites, or mean white men, cause like VDE said, there are a more than a few white women who hate Obama as much as their male neighbors and family members

  94. 94.

    Gust Avrakotos

    January 21, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Just like they obsessed about putting those uppity Yankees in their place and their whole free the slaves nonsense.

    The south loves to pick fights they can’t win. Fools.

  95. 95.

    Donut

    January 21, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    @marv:

    So when John King threw down on Mitt’s father’s honor about tax returns and asked if Mitt would do the same, the single worst word Mitt could possibly say is: Maybe. MAYBE? About your daddy? I honestly don’t see how a self-respecting redneck could ever cast a vote for Romney.

    Nailed it, Marv. Exactly. Great point.

  96. 96.

    WeeBey

    January 21, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    @Veritas:

    Who would I bet on?

    Obama.

  97. 97.

    Gilles de Rais

    January 21, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    So when John King threw down on Mitt’s father’s honor about tax returns and asked if Mitt would do the same, the single worst word Mitt could possibly say is: Maybe. MAYBE? About your daddy?

    @marv: Great post. You can either say “Hell yeah, just like my daddy did” or “fuck that old boozing sonofabitch”, but you better show some respect either way, and not pretend like your daddy’s some kind of old news, because in the South, you are who your daddy is, like it or not.

  98. 98.

    Mnemosyne

    January 21, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    @Yutsano:
    @Surreal American:

    I am going on record claiming it as a Freudian slip, not a typo. :-)

  99. 99.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    South Carolina is to Wingnutopia what Mecca is to Islam.

    When they pray, they do so facing Fort Sumter.

  100. 100.

    Egg Berry

    January 21, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    @jl: So it’s the Gallipoli nomination.

  101. 101.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    @Nellcote:

    It even sounds true, in addition to empathetic.

  102. 102.

    Mike in NC

    January 21, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    What a fun day this has been. Watching “Ides of March” right now. Good stuff. I should buy some lottery tickets tomorrow.

  103. 103.

    Dennis G.

    January 21, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    @marv: Good point

  104. 104.

    Mnemosyne

    January 21, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I did mean “white men,” because the particular group I’m thinking of also thinks that there is no such thing as any woman who is smarter than any man, anywhere. As far as they were concerned, the Democratic primary of 2008 was like letting two dogs run for president.

    Of course, I can’t discount the ability of my fellow white women to go along with utter bullshit like that, so I probably could have been inclusive.

  105. 105.

    Bondirotta

    January 21, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    So Newt beat Mitt in every age group by kore than 10 points…. Even under 30-year olds!!!

    Everyone know thinks Mitt is a loser and a wimp. His glow is gone.

  106. 106.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    @lamh35:

    re Paterno: sounds like he’s in bad shape.

    WaPost has a rambling story online that sounds like it’s preparation for an obituary.

  107. 107.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    @Egg Berry: I was thinking more along the lines of Verdun, but whatever.

    May Newt do as much damage as he can while he lasts. I toast Newt’s victory.

    I am immune to his gas attacks, so will what the can do to others out of my mind and enjoy them.

    Go Newt!
    If all this does is rattle Romney to his core and gives him opportunity to make a bigger ass of himself, and misspeak more attack ads against himself, that will be great.

  108. 108.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    @dmbeaster:

    Marshall at TPM had an editorial on this, and how the 27% faction actually believes Gingrich can do it, as they think he’ll clean up in debates.

    I just read the Josh Marshall comment you singled out, and, actually, I think Josh is saying much the same thing I am:

    I don’t think Newt would be able to deliver any kind of smackdown to President Obama in a debate — if we mean by a smackdown, anything that would make the voters who matter more likely to vote for Gingrich than Obama. But if you’re a base Republican, Newt might well tell Obama just what you’ve been wanting to tell him for years.

    .

  109. 109.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    @Mnemosyne: I do like “white mean” as a collective descriptor for the GOP primary voters, though.

  110. 110.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    Watching “Ides of March” right now. Good stuff.

    Let us know what you think when you finish watching it. I thought it started off strong for the first 45 minutes or so, but then descended into a pretty cliched disappointment instead of paying off the strong moments of its intro.

    .

  111. 111.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Hmmm…anyone see Lawrence O’Donnell kind lay down the reality to Rachel Maddow on her continued effort to made the Ron Paul candidacy more important than it actually is in the GOP Primaries, not the issue Ron Paul talks about, but the actual voting that had gone on so far of which Ron Paul has NOT won more than 3 place.

    It was pretty good

  112. 112.

    David Koch

    January 21, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    Big winner of tonight’s primary: Obama.

  113. 113.

    WereBear (itouch)

    January 21, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    @Mnemosyne: I read it as “white mean” without batting an eyelash. We are talking about a primary Newt won.

  114. 114.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Do you mind if I salivate over this typo?

    I’m not entirely sure that is a typo.

    .

  115. 115.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    TPM is showing that SC is going solid Noot, except for Richland and Charleston counties. Columbia, the capital of SC, is in Richland County.

  116. 116.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    @lamh35: I wasn’t clear what point Rachel was trying to make, but I do think that if Paul weren’t in the race, Romney would be in even weaker shape. I think all three contests so far have been open (?) so I’m sure a lot of his voters wouldn’t have voted at all, the frat boys and the Glibertarians, but I suspect those that remain are what my father used to call aginners– whatever it is, they’re agin’ it–and would have voted for Noot just to stick it to the Man, and who’s more The Man than The Mitt.

    Fun fact I found out to today, the Willard comes from George Romney’s best friend, John Willard Marriott, the hotelier.

  117. 117.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    @lamh35: Ron Paul did take 2nd in New Hampshire. Can’t argue with the larger point though.

  118. 118.

    Dennis G.

    January 21, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    Newt chases his goal in FLA. The Miami Herald is reporting that Newt is going up with a Spanish language ad citing Mittens quote Castro:

    Perhaps most damning, the ad says, “Mitt Romney goes around using Castro phrases,” referring to the 2008 presidential campaign when Romney, campaigning in Miami, mistakenly associated a Fidel Castro slogan with a free Cuba. Romney talked about Patria o muerte, venceremos — Fatherland or death, we shall overcome — a trademark phrase Castro used to close his speeches. Romney’s use of the phrase did not sit well with Cuban Americans, who, according to a Miami Herald report at the time, “winced.”

    If Newt makes in close in Florida–or wins–he will destroy Romney and then the Party elites will either have to learn to love the Professor. I don’t think Mittens has the backbone to match Newt blow for blow. We’ll see…

  119. 119.

    JGabriel

    January 21, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    efgoldman:

    There is going to be a lot of talk after the primary is over here about how Iowa and New Hampshire really didn’t count, and why South Carolina was the real test …

    Hell, I’ve been saying that since before the IA caucus. Here’s a comment from Dec. 29:

    The first primary that really counts is SC. Iowa and NH are just pageant walks.

    .

  120. 120.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    @Dennis G.: Well, good. Let them tear each other apart with asinine smears. Fine with me. I like it.

  121. 121.

    butler

    January 21, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    There it is, the old knee slapper about the teleprompter!

    And they bark like fucking seals every time…

  122. 122.

    bondirotta

    January 21, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    Just look at that fucking map.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/primary-tracker/South-Carolina/

    Newt nearly won Charleston. 25 point margins in western counties.

    He has eviscerated Mitt.

  123. 123.

    IM

    January 21, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    Well, South Carolina once again lived up to its reputation.

  124. 124.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    @butler: It’s Pavlovian response. He just threw out “Alinsky’ as well. How long until we start hearing about William Ayers again?

  125. 125.

    David Koch

    January 21, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    I love Newt — he’s code-talking a whole bunch of Jew baiting, tonight.

  126. 126.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    @Dennis G.:

    I don’t think Mittens has the backbone to match Newt blow for blow.

    OvenMitt fears his hair will get mussed. Noot doesn’t mind…he loves wallowing in the mud.

    OvenMitt is a wuss. Noot’s got him where he wants him right now.

    FSM may yet bless us with Noot as the candidate.

  127. 127.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    Drinking words are “elite” and “radical like Saul Alinsky.”

    Food Stamp President.

    He just said it again.

  128. 128.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    And there goes the “food stamp President” line.

    Question: Is it possible for a candidate to get a negative percentage of the African-American votes?

  129. 129.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    @dmsilev: If polled, half the audience would probably say Saul Alinksy ran Russia between Kruschev and Breshnev. the same one who called NPR to say they were never going to watch again after Juan Williams was shitcanned.

  130. 130.

    Cat Lady

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Watching The Summer of Lord Stanley about how each Bruin spent their day with the Cup, instead of Newt’s beady amphibian eyes watched over by his raptor wife. These Bruins are my people.

  131. 131.

    Joe Lisboa

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Doubles down (again? Triples down?) on Food Stamp President.

    Also, too: “Independency”?

  132. 132.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    @lamh35:

    Paul himself is sounding rather defeatist right now, some garbage about America is lackadaisical about freedom.

    Yeah, right, you Birchite asshole.

  133. 133.

    WereBear (itouch)

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    @butler: As I watched Newt make that TelePrompTer joke, I got a chill; I think he’s going to win the Nom.

    Romney is what the party pretends it still is.

    But Newt is who they really are.

  134. 134.

    rikyrah

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Little Newton beat Willard’s azz like he stole something.

    I think it’s hilarious.

  135. 135.

    WeeBey

    January 21, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    It’s all just one long dogwhistle.

    Elite. Bigots. Foodstamp president.

  136. 136.

    butler

    January 21, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    @Elizabelle: Don’t forget “teleprompter”

    And my game is even simpler:

    1) Watch GOP member talk
    2) Drink to dull the pain resulting from #1

    Oh wine, you’re such a good friend.

  137. 137.

    Sly

    January 21, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    @JGabriel:
    I wonder if, during these fantastical debates, Newt would call Obama either a Kenyan Anti-Colonialist or a Saul Alinsky Radical. Or maybe that’s a false choice.

    Any which way, 95% of those watching will have no fucking clue what he’s talking about, but the Wingularity will laugh uproariously at the cleverness of their candidate, who would be the first genuine douchebag ever to receive the nomination by a major party. Say the word douchebag silently to yourself while looking at a picture of a smiling Newt Gingrich. It feels to me that the word was invented just for him.

    At any rate, my brother-in-law recently explained to me that the reason many conservatives are dismayed is that the people currently running for the nomination represent the “C-Team” of the Republican Party. To which I asked, “Well, then who’s on your A-Team? Wait, nevermind, who’s on your damn B-Team?” The tired, defeated shrug I received in response was delicious.

    Four more years.

  138. 138.

    Joe Lisboa

    January 21, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    Yeah, why did Newt go after “New York elites” the night before heading to Florida? And I thought the POTUS who bowed to the Saudi King was W? So confused.

  139. 139.

    David Koch

    January 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    So far he’s bashed blacks, jews, china, gays, and arabs.

  140. 140.

    pseudonymous in nc

    January 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    @Chris:

    First time I ever heard fascism explained in the simplest way possible was (of course) on a Star Trek TOS episode, where the “Jew” bitterly tells the Enterprise crew that the “Nazis” on the planet need them, so that they’ll have someone to hate, because their entire system flies to pieces when they don’t have anyone to hate.

    A tale as old as tales themselves. Beowulf kills all the monsters, dies in the process, but it’s the fear of the monsters that holds together the society, and once they’re gone…

    I still think that Mittens will take the prize — only so much of Florida is “The South” — but I think gNewt has become the vehicle of GOPper ressentiment.

  141. 141.

    Old Slow Trot

    January 21, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    @Name: Delaware was a slave state. That explains enough.

  142. 142.

    dmsilev

    January 21, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    @David Koch: I guess the Mexican-bashing is being saved for the grand finale.

  143. 143.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    That is an ugly sounding audience.

    Wish camera would turn on it. I’m thinking white as Newt and Callista’s hair.

  144. 144.

    butler

    January 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Newt named two young children (his grandkids I think) as his “top debate coaches”. Sounds about right.

  145. 145.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    It’s so Orwellian hearing Gingrich calling anyone else “radical.”

    The Republican Party is the ugly radicals that have gone off the rails.

  146. 146.

    Unabogie

    January 21, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    I grew up listening to lefty radio, but I hadn’t even heard of Saul Alinsky until Gerome Corsey’s book made it sound like he raised President Obama on his knee.

    Of course, they have no relationship at all. They never met, as Alisky died when Obama was in high school, but somehow to Teabaggers, Obama and Alinsky are linked like brothers. These people are insane.

  147. 147.

    butler

    January 21, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    @Joe Lisboa: No No No. W only held hands with and kissed the Saudi King on the cheek.

    Obama made the horrible, awful, no good, very bad mistake of kinda halfway slightly bowing his head when he shook his hand, which means we are now an official province of Saudi Arabia or something.

  148. 148.

    Joe Lisboa

    January 21, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    @Elizabelle: Yes, that was a disturbingly aggressive audience, victory or no. Felt all aggro- and emitted a creepy vibe. Ugh.

  149. 149.

    WeeBey

    January 21, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    Trying to imagine getting blown by Calista’s hair helmet.

  150. 150.

    Elizabelle

    January 21, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    Surreal also to have Newt slamming the Army Corps of Engineers by saying WWII was won in 3-1/2 years (vs. the 8 years Corps needs to study problems).

    The GOP has forgotten George W Bush and the Iraq War he started, 9 years to an inconclusive end.

    George W Bush does not exist for these folks.

    Nor does Dwight D. Eisenhower.

  151. 151.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    See, Newt, poisonous gas attacks. He’s started already.

    Since the edit button is broken I wonder if part of the post was a typo:

    “The goal is to get rid of Romney,” Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said. “Our goal is to remove, with Mitt Romney, from the competitive ranks.”

  152. 152.

    clayton aka corner stone squared

    January 21, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    IT’S NOT FAIR TO BRING UP RACISM.

    Anne Laurie and BHF.

    All that.

    This is a race to enrich the media, which got Newt a lot of press which gets a lot of money from certain groups and where does all of the Citizen United money go to?
    The media.

    And yet this blog ran off a voice that would have been quite helpful in these last few weeks just because what?

    Why did you all run off ABL?

    What is wrong with you all?

  153. 153.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    yeah — Obama is now a black mooslim socialist Saulalinsky jew kenyan from Mars who promotes foodstamps for all…

    What a fucking joke —

    I can’t wait to see his ugly fat white ass up there. Obama is going to wipe the floor with Noot — Noot — greasy sweat over that large pored white skin… mouth running, babbling…

    Whether him or Romney —

  154. 154.

    Cat Lady

    January 21, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    Newt wants to be preznit of old white fart amerikkka. Everyone else can DIAF. I don’t think that’s an electorally successful strategy.

  155. 155.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    I love how the MSM (other than Al Shaprton) is pussyfooting around the overt dogwhistling Newt G gave in that speech.

    THe only one who came close was Gloria Berger who said that Newt at the end really turned to POTUS, but his rhetoric did come off as “belittling” Obama, which could be a problem.

    and then hear come David Gergen with his coded analysis. talking about Newt’s being able to actually “appeal to those working class voters, white voters more than we think”.

    Ugh…somebody needs some balls to call the ugly what it is.

  156. 156.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    I’m waiting for Mark Halperin or David Gergen to explain to me that Republicans are so vicious because Obama is a dick who hasn’t reached out.

  157. 157.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    January 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Noot’s performance is the most glorious by a supervillain in a B movie since Frank Langella in Masters of the Universe.

  158. 158.

    srv

    January 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Priceline kills Capt. Kirk.

  159. 159.

    oklahomo

    January 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    @WeeBey: Just wait till it jumps off her head and bites someone.

  160. 160.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    If you know that, then it cannot be a surprise at all that Newt Gingrich has surged in this state and that Romney and Santorum are viewed as Yankee copperhead carpetbaggers at best.

    LOL, what

    Sure it fucking “can” be a surprise, you didn’t predict this, nobody goddamn predicted this

    It is a HUGE fucking surprise that Romney didn’t win SC

  161. 161.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    IT’S A BIG FUCKIN DEAL

  162. 162.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    I am under moderation for some reason… I refered to Noots sweaty porous white skin I guess…

  163. 163.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    and once again, it’s all about donors, and Romney just suggested to a bunch of donors that he may not win, which will shift some of the cash from those looking for favors (everyone)

  164. 164.

    lamh35

    January 21, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    I love how the MSM (other than Al Shaprton) is p*&^footing around the overt dogwhistling Newt G gave in that speech.

    THe only one who came close was Gloria Berger who said that Newt at the end really turned to POTUS, but his rhetoric did come off as “belittling” Obama, which could be a problem.

    and then hear come David Gergen with his coded analysis. talking about Newt’s being able to actually “appeal to those working class voters, white voters more than we think”.

    Ugh…somebody needs some balls to call the ugly what it is.

  165. 165.

    Jennifer

    January 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    No matter how it all plays out, Newt winning S. Carolina is all good.

    When I say “doesn’t matter,” I mean that it’s highly unlikely Gingrich could win the nomination. Sure, for the bufords in SC, Alabama, MS, just the whiff of a promise that Newt might call Obama a ni**er to his face is reason enough to vote for him. But that shit ain’t going to play in most of the rest of the country. But still, there’s the outside chance that Newt could win the most delegates, which would be worrisome if he weren’t so loathesome and have a history of shooting himself in the foot at the worst possible moment, so I have to root for him to win the nomination.

    If he doesn’t, though, Mittens will be so trashed by the time he limps over the finish line that he won’t stand a chance of winning the general, because he starts from a point of more people not liking him than liking him. Even without Newt pelting him daily with the equivalent of verbal rotten eggs and vegetables, the fact that more people dislike than like him means that he won’t be president. But if he goes through months of being Newtered, it will be a bloody massacre.

    The difference between this nomination fight and Obama/Hillary in 2008 is that Obama/Hillary was a tough battle because both were good candidates. With Newt/Romney, they’re both bad candidates. Banking on having fewer people who hate your guts than hate the other guys’ showing up on election day to stake your claim to victory is not an enviable position, but it’s one they both find themselves in. The main point is that because they’re both so loathed, it doesn’t really matter which one gets to lose to Obama.

    Either way it plays out, it’s going to be LOADS of fun.

  166. 166.

    rikyrah

    January 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    From Andrew Sullivan about Newt’s speech:

    The core of the speech: Gingrich is fighting the “elites” who for 35 years have been trying to turn America into something else. This is a former Speaker of the House, and a denizen of the Washington trough. And he still sees himself as an outsider. But he’s playing nice tonight – especially with Santorum. Is he trying to charm him out of the race? Then he endorses Ron Paul’s view on the Federal Reserve. And praises Romney as a good organizer. These individuals are somehow a response to the “elites”. Even a multi-millionaire son of a former governor.

    Then the Obama-Is-An-Alien line: “we will run an American campaign, not a Republican one.” All the Republican candidates are Americans. But the elites are not. Key phrase: “Think of how radical Obama would be in his second term.” Then the condescension toward this “absurdity” of a president. And the TelePrompter gag. Do these people really buy into the idea that Obama is unable to articulate himself?

    And we have the core McCarthyite theme: American exceptionalism versus the Saul Alinsky radicalism. “We” are Americans. Obama is a traditional America-hater.

    Then the religion card: the increasing anti-religious “bigotry” of the elites will be his enemy. He will deploy race and religion and nationalism as his themes. No wonder South Carolina loved him. And rather than retreating on the racially charged “food stamp president” line, he reiterates it.

    This is what the GOP now is, and it deserves its spokesman. But do not under-estimate the appeal to some of the idea of humiliating and removing the first black president. That’s what Gingrich is really about. He is giving them what they want. And it’s meat that has barely seen a skillet.

    Now he wants an American energy policy – not Obama’s. And he wants US presidents to stop bowing to the Saudi king. He knows in his bones how to work this constituency, while of course, “fundamentally reforming the government at every level.”

    Then we hear about Obama’s “extreme left-wing allies from San Francisco” and now he is a “danger to this country”. “He makes Jimmy Carter look strong.” He wants the final showdown between America and socialism/Marxism/radicalism/Jihadism/Obama. And the rage among some about a black president actually exercizing authority is real. This man can roil it brutally, shamelessly, mercilessly. And he will.

    http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/01/live-blogging-the-south-carolina-results.html

  167. 167.

    John O

    January 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    @WereBear (itouch):

    Nicely put; I agree.

    Newt is scary.

  168. 168.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    @Elizabelle: Newt is a world famous professor of history. He can tell you that the artificial harbors and logistics supply train in place by day 3 at Normandy were improvised on the spot by innovative all Americans, who could understand complex interlocking problems, penetrating through many levels. They sold stuff to the s o s h u l i s t loser Brits and Canucks at a tidy profit.

    Back then, small government worked!

  169. 169.

    barath

    January 21, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    Gotta love this – David Axelrod making a divide by zero joke about Romney:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/21/1057105/-Daily-Kos-Elections-South-Carolina-Republican-primary-liveblog-thread-7#20120121180559

  170. 170.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    January 21, 2012 at 10:09 pm

    @Veritas:

    Who cares to bet between the two? All that matters to me is that no matter what happens, it’s lose-lose for the Republicans and a huge win for Obama and the Democrats this fall.

    You really need to up your game DougJ. The winger-spoof of this one is too organized, it needs more scatterbrained ideas to sound realistic.

    ;p

  171. 171.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    @lamh35:

    Don’t worry — Noot always goes too far. Always

    His speech started out really good and ended up over long, filled with dog whistles and boring..

    If he is emptying out the invectives this early, where can he go later? Over the last three years, Obama has been called so many names so often, it is almost numbing…it literally loses any meaning…

  172. 172.

    Darnell From LA

    January 21, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    What is happening is very clear:

    The GOP base is willing to trade a chance to actually win for the simple catharsis of having one of their own stand on a stage with Obama and call him a “Nigger” (in so many words) to his face. Period. That’s it.

  173. 173.

    jheartney

    January 21, 2012 at 10:12 pm

    I was considering declaring as a gooper to vote for Newt in the MO primary next month, but as it happens he’s not even on the ballot. OTOH the presidential preference vote is non binding (actual delegates chosen later in caucuses), so if the amphibian is still alive a few months later them Misery may give him some love.

  174. 174.

    Betty Cracker

    January 21, 2012 at 10:12 pm

    Can someone please teach Chuck Todd the difference between “exacerbate” and “exasperate”? He did the same thing in his anti-Colbert diatribe. Dumb ass!

  175. 175.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    Balloon Juice is clearly intimidated to hell by Newt Gingrich

    “Oh he can’t blah blah blah”

    “Oh he’ll never blah blah blah”

    He just beat the odds, by a lot – and the entire rest of the race will be determined by who gets the checks

  176. 176.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Running to win every state’s delegates is BTW a phenomenon about as recent as the SC primary……..

  177. 177.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    @Jennifer: “Newtered” I like that. I hope you are gifting that to the world at large for the sake of our democratic republic.

  178. 178.

    Mike in NC

    January 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    Drinking words are “elite” and “radical like Saul Alinsky.”

    And 99.9% of Americans ask “Who the fuck is Saul Alinksy?” to the serial adulterer. He’s precious that way.

  179. 179.

    Mark S.

    January 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Does Ricky drop out and endorse Newt?

  180. 180.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    so what guns do you think the GOP is going to roll out against Newton Leory? Barbara Bush? Did Newtie ever piss off the WASP Corleones? He must have. Nancy Reagan, she up to traveling? IIRC Dick Armey hates Newt and runs the superPACS for Cock bros.

  181. 181.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    @Darnell From LA:

    The GOP base is willing to trade a chance to actually win for the simple catharsis of having one of their own stand on a stage with Obama and call him a “Nigger” (in so many words) to his face. Period. That’s it.

    Unless they feel they can win that way, more or less like they did in the last national election in 2010

  182. 182.

    Linda Featheringill

    January 21, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    @oklahomo:

    Callista’s hair:

    Just wait till it jumps off her head and bites someone.

    LOL!

  183. 183.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    @Jennifer:

    Either way it plays out, it’s going to be LOADS of fun.

    Orville Redenbacher’s heirs are loving this. They’ll be able to put all the great grandkids through any expensive higher education institution they can get admitted to. They’ll drive to classes in Ferraris.

  184. 184.

    JPL

    January 21, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    @Betty Cracker: NO..

    Am I the only one that Newt’s goons threw eggs at..BTW..They appeared to be of Espanic persuasion…

  185. 185.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    The GOP’s donor base probably started splitting weeks ago (they knew more about what was going to happen tonight than we ever will) and I doubt Dick Armey can keep Koch money from Gingrich if the Kochs want it there; the real question is whether the Rove/Koch relationship is on the mend

  186. 186.

    clayton aka corner stone squared

    January 21, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    @Elie: It’s because you are white. You know. It’s the reason we can’t have ABL anymore. Too many white people. Added another if I am not mistaken.

  187. 187.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    Gingrich is easily on enough states’ ballots to force a showdown at the convention if he can win enough of them

    Once again, all that matters is whether he can get enough money into enough states, quickly enough – and he may already have done so

  188. 188.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: If Newt wins a few, I will start rooting for Mitt to win a few big states with a saner GOP base. Longer and uglier this race is, the better.

    And as long as people like Newt and Santorum are in it, the race will stay very ugly.

    If Mitt wins too quickly, he will start prettying things up, refining and distilling winning codes and wedge issues, cleaning up the pools of drunken primary political hate vomit, incontinent piss, and bowel movements from the floor, spraying air freshener around. That would be a bad development for the general election.

  189. 189.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    @jl:

    IIRC Jennifer gave us “The Clenis” over at Atrios’ place years ago.

    She’s good at this shit.

  190. 190.

    Delia

    January 21, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    I am listening to my local radio station’s Saturday Grateful Dead program. Jerry is singing Desolation Row. It’s much more appropriate than anything the Lizard Professor has to say.

    But what will happen if he does win the nomination? The 27% will have their chance and will blow up. I can’t even imagine what sort of interesting things will happen then. They’ll all tell themselves they were robbed of course . . .

  191. 191.

    Jennifer

    January 21, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    @jl: Yes, Newtered – as in, Newt’s not happy with just winning – the other guy’s gotta leave his balls on the field, too.

  192. 192.

    Linda Featheringill

    January 21, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    The next test for Newt will be whether he can similarly appeal to Florida Republicans’ instincts [base or otherwise] without replaying the same phrases he used in SC. If he can tailor his speeches to the local lingo, he might just get the nomination.

  193. 193.

    JPL

    January 21, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    @clayton aka corner stone squared: wtf.. at least newt’s hired illegals threw eggs at me..

  194. 194.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    People should also not underestimate the extreme pressure that will be on Romney to drop out if Gingrich wins a run of states and begins to look better vs. Obama in polls

    There is not really anything like that sort of pressure in the Democratic primaries

  195. 195.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    @Delia:

    But what will happen if he does win the nomination? The 27% will have their chance and will blow up. I can’t even imagine what sort of interesting things will happen then. They’ll all tell themselves they were robbed of course . . .

    Yeah that’s the real problem, whether or not Gingrich can beat Obama, if he makes it into the general, Gingrich’s genuine skill at propaganda/rhetoric will begin to redefine political discussion in the country

    Gingrich trained himself decades ago to speak with a limited and focused vocabulary that he writes down first; he may be a better speaker than Obama off the cuff in the milieu of American national elections

    Obama gave some quote recently about “I don’t think you can argue that I haven’t improved the country compared to . . .” and I will tell you that about one-third of Americans wouldn’t even be able to make it to the end of that clause and still know what was going on

  196. 196.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    @jl:

    Yeah, Noot can tell us that, but it would be bullshit.

    The US Army does not improvise man made harbors on the spot like that. Eisenhower, unlike Noot, was a professional.

    Everything about WWII was big government at its biggest focused on getting something done. Kinda the same way we put Neil Armstrong on the Moon.

  197. 197.

    General Stuck

    January 21, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    @Mark S.:

    Not yet, as he is even in states won with both Mitt and Newt. I think he will stick around a until the winner take all states begin, lying in wait (not misspell) at the gate to claim the conservative mantel if Gingrich screws the pooch, that Newt is prone to do with his big mouth and mammoth ego.

    Mitt has the org and cash to bully his way through, but he is in the minority of the GOP as a moderate, or whatever the fuck he is. It will be interesting which takes the prize in the end, big bucks, or ideology.

    My money is on ideology, at least until the RNC convention, when anything will be possible. I mean, how can the GOP send Newt into the GE, when so many of the party elite hate his fish eating guts, and many are on record saying as much. Just fascinating, the whole thing.

  198. 198.

    JPL

    January 21, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: The primaries semm to be tilted towards Romney..
    http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-republican-primary-schedule/

  199. 199.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: but the people who apply that pressure know Newt is about their worst candidate this side of Palin. The only real threat to Willard, as much as Newt weakens him, is those tax returns. If he eventually melts down over those, they’ll have to turn to…. whom? Daniels? Thune? Pawlenty? (And I don’t think that’s going to happen, if I had to bet, I’d still bet on Romney for the nom, but not more than 50 bucks, and only if I had to).

  200. 200.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    @clayton aka corner stone squared:

    But I’m not white. What does ABL have to do with my comment either… I mean, I like ABL, but don’t see the relevance…

  201. 201.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    @jl:

    If Newt wins a few, I will start rooting for Mitt to win a few big states with a saner GOP base. Longer and uglier this race is, the better.

    IF we end up with a weaker Republican nominee, and IF that nominee is Mitt Romney

    If Gingrich goes into the election weakened, he will do an extreme amount of damage to the country anyway, perhaps even more if he’s desperate

  202. 202.

    Lojasmo

    January 21, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    As pleased as I am about gnoot’s win tonight, SC is chock full of stupid motherfuckers.

  203. 203.

    Darnell From LA

    January 21, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: I stand by it. Here’s why:

    The polling of Obama vs. Newt is not even close, across the board. A total blowout for Obama. And the most recent poll of Texas actually has Newt LOSING TEXAS vs. Obama. (yes, Newt is trailing Obama….in Texas)

    Newt isn’t about winning. So I really believe this is what it’s all about: Why take a chance at MAYBE winning with a Mormon when we can have Newt dogwhistle Nigger in Obama’s presence?

    Sick. But for them, too good to pass up.

  204. 204.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    but the people who apply that pressure know Newt is about their worst candidate this side of Palin.

    The comparison is not apt at all; Gingrich is, if nothing else, skilled at turning propaganda into speech

    If Gingrich continues to win states, his positives/negatives will shift rapidly among Republican men – they already like him more as a group and mainly, they respect ego and power

  205. 205.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    January 21, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    @Elizabelle: It is both true and empathetic – you’re both right. And that is partly what offends them so deeply. How dare the near guy be both accurate and caring? Who the fuck does he think he is, anyway?

  206. 206.

    dww44

    January 21, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    @JGabriel: also, too, Newt’s born in bred in the state. Newt is as much Northern as Southern. His formative years were not spent in the South and I recollect that one or more of his half-sisters still reside there.

  207. 207.

    bondirotta

    January 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    Newt does need to win Florida – he can’t win places like Ohio or Arizona if he can’t carry Florida. And Mitt will sweep California, Virginia, New York and Michigan.

    Next week is the decisive one.

  208. 208.

    Triassic Sands

    January 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    Newt Gingrich and South Carolina deserve each other.

    Mitt Romney, the phoniest candidate ever, finally experiences an authentic emotion — humiliation.

  209. 209.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Yes, I typed in jest.

    Actually, from my understanding it was just the reverse of what Newt says. It was conservative, particularly Austrian economists, economists who objected to the massive government involvement in the WWII effort. They wanted fancy tax and subsidy schemes to harnass free enterprise war winning know how and git ‘er done-ness.

    They were fiddling with ornate theoretical schemes all through the war, as Rosie was riveting, floating docks were built and floating, and practical economists and mathematicians willing to work for Big Gummint developed and used linear programming and modern logistics to move all them gummint people and stuff around.

  210. 210.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    You think that Noot speaks with clarity? Really?

    I definitely think he can ring chimes sometimes — he is very emotional in his terminology. He also loses control of it…

    You bettin against Obama in a Noot/obama match up — like Obama has only one strategy or dimension? He can only be cool and intellectual with no other “game” I wouldn’t be that, bro…..

  211. 211.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    @Darnell From LA:

    LOL, the most recent date on those polls is January 17!! and that’s only ONE of them!

    All Newt has to do is keep winning states and those numbers will change – and if he makes it to the general they will realign, as they always do, to reflect R-lean vs. D-lean with a tiny I wedge in the middle, representing loud idiots

  212. 212.

    Delia

    January 21, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    One thing that’s on Mitt’s side: Everywhere west of the Continental Divide there are more sizable Mormon populations. And as far as the rest of the goopers out here go, they may be just as crazy as the other wingers, but they’re different. They don’t respond to all the racial cues the same way as the Southerners. I think they’ll go for Romney if he’s still in the race by then.

  213. 213.

    DW

    January 21, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    Something important to remember is that the GOP base really isn’t hostile to government spending, as long as the money goes to white God fearing Christians. They only object when it goes to the wrong sort of people. The strongest group for the GOP in 2010 were the over 65 crowd who weren’t eager to give up social security or medicare. The real objection to Obamacare wasn’t any nonsense about intrusive government – it was fear that it might interfere with what the GOP base already got from government. Remember, the Repubs ran ads attacking Obama for cutting Medicare.

    Newt gets this – that’s why he attacked the Ryan Medicare plan. Romney doesn’t, nor does a lot of our elite. Worse, Romney’s history with Bain Capital suggests he’s just the sort of man who would throw the affluent but not truly rich white GOP base under the bus to keep his buddies happy. Newt on the other hand is certain to keep federal manna falling on worthy white Christian folk while minimizing money to the wrong sort of Americans. That’s Romney’s real weakness.

    Personally I’m all for social security and medicare. I just think it would be nice if the elderly would agree to letting the young and nonwhite who pay for social security and medicare get some health insurance of their own.

  214. 214.

    DanielX

    January 21, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    @JGabriel:

    This. Yup, that’s pretty much Newt’s thought and it’s pretty much the thought of a lot of 27 percenters. They’d rather go down in flames with a three time loser like Newt than vote for a “compromiser” like Mittens the family guy. Newt is a more pure representative of their theology/ideology than anyone else, and he sounds smarter than Little Ricky – not that being smarter than Santorum requires much intellectual heavy lifting. And, yes, before I forget, I apologize for using the word “pure” and “Newt Gingrich” in the same sentence.

    Actually, this sort of reminds me of 2000, with Newt cast in the role of Ralph Nader. With the minor differences that

    a) there are a hell of a lot more people that would vote for Gingrich than would vote for good ol’ Ralph, may that hypocritical bastard be eaten by red ants,

    b) those who would vote for Newt are a lot crazier than Nader supporters, and not in a good way, and

    c) Newt (and his Neuticles – h/t TBogg) – is not a third party candidate, although given the love he’s not feeling from the Republican establishment he might as well be one at this point.*

    *If he does somehow get the nomination, they will reluctantly fall in line, as they will have no choice. Perhaps they can persuade him to pick Joe Lieberman for his VP candidate as a “moderating influence”.

    Let me explain statement b). Nader supporters are for sure holier than thou true believers, and they have a lot to answer for after the 2000 election. However, they didn’t and don’t generally talk openly about shooting, hanging, or imprisoning their political opponents. Whereas a lot of commentators on, say, Red State, Free Republic and other forums who DO advocate doing those things to their opponents** think that Newt is just absolutely the cat’s ass.

    **Looking at some the comments over the years, there is not a hell of a lot of difference between SOME of the Freeperati and run of the mill StormFront followers.

    Jesus, a Gingrich/Lieberman ticket….what was in those drinks I had earlier? I’m going to be afraid to go to sleep tonight…

  215. 215.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    HAhahaha, parDON, the most recent poll on that page is actually the FIFTEENTH

  216. 216.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: T

    he comparison is not apt at all; Gingrich is, if nothing else, skilled at turning propaganda into speech

    The people who don’t know how they’re going to vote in November are the kind of people who vote based on personality, and Newt is as cartoonish as Palin, and his propaganda appeals to a pretty small sector of the electorate, who already hate Obama and the Dems. Gingrich would have negative coat tails like nothing we’ve seen in a long time.

  217. 217.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    Yeah I really don’t buy this two-weeks-ago version of events that seems to rule the roost here

    I guess it’s just what media does to people – everything is shiny and new, no one learns from the past

  218. 218.

    Martin

    January 21, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    I don’t think the GOP quite understands that every time they slam San Francisco, they get a lot of independent Californians to dig in against them. Californians are proud of the city – eccentric as it may be. They aren’t just losing SF votes, they’re losing the entire state.

    And Newts obsession with Alinsky is just creepy. I don’t see how you can take as anything other than an antisemitic dog whistle. The guy was pretty apolitical, was certainly not a socialist, and the Tea Party more than Obama, seems to have hewed to his writings – at least as the Tea Party wants us to view them.

  219. 219.

    Delia

    January 21, 2012 at 10:34 pm

    @bondirotta:

    Newt’s not going to win Arizona — too many Mormons and cowboys.

  220. 220.

    Martin

    January 21, 2012 at 10:34 pm

    FYWPM!

  221. 221.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    What a lot of Democrats can’t do is put themselves in Republican shoes

    Republicans are EXCITED about these primaries – and the independents who decide national elections will do whatever the subheads on AOL News tell them to do – so Newt has now been given a third (fourth? fifth?) chance to radically redefine himself in the public’s eye

  222. 222.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:36 pm

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): he was also, accurately, talking about them as motivated by fear and insecurity. The gun nuts especially see themselves as rugged individualists

  223. 223.

    jheartney

    January 21, 2012 at 10:37 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    Unless they feel they can win that way, more or less like they did in the last national election in 2010

    Now you see this is where you lose me, conflating an off-year election with the economy at the bottom of a slump and no Obama on the ballot with a presidential election in a year after the economy has started improving and incumbent Obama is running at the top of the ticket. Though I guess i should remember the Tea Party mojo was so strong in 2010 that it gave us Senators O’Donnell and Angle. Oh wait, it didn’t.

  224. 224.

    dogwood

    January 21, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Mitt has the org and cash to bully his way through,

    No doubt Mitt has cash, but would someone please explain to me how Mitt has this great “organization”? What does that mean? He can’t seem to get out the vote, and I have no doubt there are plenty of republicans not voting in these primaries who would prefer Mitt over Newt or Santorum. What kind of top-notch political organization would ever send him out to say the stupid shit he spouts daily? I’m just not buying the conventional wisdom that says he is running a first class organization.

  225. 225.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: I do not see how the garbage Newt spewed tonight helps the GOP at all anywhere outside of a variety of relatively small white bigot enclaves scattered around the country.

    There probably a South Carolina’s worth of nutso white bigot enclaves in California, and the more Newt needs to tap into that to keep his sorry fraud of a campaign going, the more it will turn off the majority of the voters.

    It is very bad for this country that the anyone from pack of rabid baboons that comprised the GOP primary field can qualify to run for president of this country. But that is the hand that fate dealt us.

    I want a long and ugly GOP primary that damages their candidates as much as possible. Risky business, but that is all we have at this point.

    And hope for continued weak economic recovery that might just exceed very low expectations.

  226. 226.

    General Stuck

    January 21, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    @dogwood:

    It’s really not so much that Mitt has a great organization, than it is Newt having little to none, and has been flying by the seat of his britches. Remember, Mitt has been pretty much running for president, and nothing else, since about 2006

  227. 227.

    Darnell From LA

    January 21, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: Newt has been losing big to Obama is every poll since the beginning of time. And the poll by PPP in Texas has every other GOP candidate beating Obama. Newt is the only GOP candidate who loses to Obama….IN TEXAS.

    Bottom line; Romney may be “Republican Dukakis”, whereas Gingrich is “Goldwater 2.0”. The GOP base knows this but doesn’t care. They hate Obama, just like they hate the idea of a black man in the White House, (the “absurdity of an Obama Presidency”, as Hugh Hewitt said tonight) and they want the opportunity to tell Obama his face. Winning is a 2nd priority at this point.

  228. 228.

    jl

    January 21, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Newt does know how to modulate his pitch. But his range is small. As far as I know, he has this ugly Pat Buchanan schtick.

    And he can switch that up with his idiotic dumb man’s genius bafflegab. But most people will tire of that nonsense. And Newts visionary world historical gizmo speak will be a ripe target for Obama, and Biden too, if he is the VP nominee.

  229. 229.

    JoyfulA

    January 21, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    @liberal: I knew that Karen lived with an abortion provider for years (didn’t know he delivered her). We in PA know a lot more about Rick that hasn’t made the national rounds.

  230. 230.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    @jl:

    As far as I know, he has this ugly Pat Buchanan schtick.

    Exactly. That will be the comparison to make, depending on how angry Newt is in September, will he give a speech that sounded better in the original German and drives the indies who were going to vote for Romney because he doesn’t seem crazy and ‘must know how the economy works’ back to Obama.

  231. 231.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    Another thing most Democrats probably don’t get is the extreme negative effect on Romney over the shift of Iowa away from him

    Republicans believe in Dolchstoßlegende, they believe in conspiracies, and they see do-overs until they get what they want as ultimate vindication that they were right to begin with

  232. 232.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    @dogwood:

    Its not the organization’s fault that its candidate is terrible… THAT is the problem. They can’t see him no matter what they do… he can’t “sell” himself.

    I had the genuine impression when I watches his concession speech that he really didn’t want it that much anymore. Sure, he wanted/wants to BE President — like an award or prize — but he doesn’t want to “work” to become President. He doesn’t truly want to prove his worth or capability… that is to his mind not necessary. THAT is why he can’t explain anything. He just can’t make himself accountable that way and it just burns him that others think that he HAS to…

    For all his seeming milder temperament, Romney would be far more dangerous in office to my mind — Sociopath

  233. 233.

    Jennifer

    January 21, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: The turnout numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire didn’t indicate that Republicans were all that excited…I haven’t seen yet how the SC turnout compares to 2008 & wouldn’t be surprised if those mouth-breathers were excited to turn out to vote, given that so many of their favorite offerings were on the menu – Ron Paul’s states’ rights, Santorum’s stick-up-the-ass faux religiosity, Gingrich’s open appeals to bigotry…but in a country loaded with stupid extreme right-wingers, SC pretty much stands out as the MOST extreme. Newt’s schtick doesn’t play on a national stage; it never did. He never would have been speaker of the house if it was based on national plebiscite; he was fairly loathed by large majorities of the electorate.

  234. 234.

    Elie

    January 21, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    What happened to the edit button..?

    sorry about my typos in #237

  235. 235.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    I would not look forward to a strong Republican Party without Rove; it was his influence that had George W. Bush saying over and over that American Muslims are cool

  236. 236.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    @Jennifer:

    I just can’t reiterate enough that the idea that SC’s Republicans represent some sort of marginal demographic goes completely against evidence

  237. 237.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    If the 27% can ever find a man (has to be a man…women simply will not do for this) who has the charisma to not only lead them, but get enough of the mushy middle to go along, we could be living in a fascist dictatorship.

    So far, they have no one to fill that particular role. It sure isn’t OvenMitt, who has all the charisma of, and my apologies in advance, a wet blanket.

  238. 238.

    Chris

    January 21, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    @DW:

    That was all well said, sir. Spot on.

  239. 239.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    “South Carolina doesn’t matter, it’s full of extremists” is a wonderful Democratic bedtime story: true compared to the world, bullshit considering that America’s electorate chooses the President

  240. 240.

    jheartney

    January 21, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    @Darnell From LA: I think a better comparison for Newt 2012 is Mondale ’84; the party’s base, not believing that THAT GUY won the last election and certain the country would come to its senses, put up a base-friendly representative of their ideology, not realizing the previous election had ushered in a new era. (And I say this as someone whose first presidential vote was cast for Mondale; can’t tell you how good it felt to vote against the Gipper despite the obvious futility of the gesture.)

  241. 241.

    DanielX

    January 21, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    All true, you only left out the part about how a lot of them don’t believe any president except a Republican president is a legitimate president. No, really – THEY DON’T BELIEVE IT.

  242. 242.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    Republicans believe in Dolchstoßlegende,

    So do Democrats/leftists. She may be nuts, but no nuttier than the commenters at…. let’s just say certain blogs…. but Roseanne Barr has announced a write-in candidacy to save the country from Obama and the Democrats, and opined that Mitt Romney’s orders from Wall Street are to lose to Obama.

  243. 243.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    I’m pretty sure Gingrich is that man right now, defined by his major national victory in the first few minutes of the last debate

  244. 244.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    January 21, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    Dude, even Zombie Reagan hates Noot. I enjoy a little concern trolling as much as the next guy but the biggest concern this election cycle is retaining the Senate. Noot’s reputation as a slimeball actually helps us in that endeavor. Hell, it might help us pick up a couple of seats.

  245. 245.

    Dennis G.

    January 21, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: Actually, I’ve been writing about Newt’s connection to the base and why he should not be counted out for years (I once thought he would make a run in 2008). In this recent cycle I’ve put up quite a few posts that predicted that he would connect with the base and have a very good shot at making this a contest. I think you could only be surprised at his win tonight if you weren’t paying attention, but that was true of most folks. So yes, I can see how some are surprised.

  246. 246.

    Jennifer

    January 21, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: I don’t believe that I said it was a marginal demographic. What I said is it’s a demographic that’s far more concentrated in SC than anywhere else, with perhaps the exception of Oklahoma (them’s some dumbass mofos in OK). When that demographic is less concentrated, as it is virtually everywhere outside of SC, the dogwhistle/snake oil/what have you doesn’t appeal to the majority.

  247. 247.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    And for those making goofy Pat Buchanan comparisons: Buchanan’s campaigns were practically defined by his inability to win South Carolina, according to Pat himself

  248. 248.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 21, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    He might be for the 27% alone, but he can’t break out. He’s got no charisma to speak of, besides tossing red meat at the racist slime of the 27%. It doesn’t resonate past that, and he’s not operating inside a parliamentary system as Herr Godwin Bait was.

  249. 249.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    He might be for the 27% alone, but he can’t break out.

    Sure he can

    Gets more money -> wins more states -> taken seriously by press -> continues to attack press -> breaks out

    No guarantee of that happening (the first part will determine the rest) but it is as possible as pretty much anything else in the Republican race

  250. 250.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    Look I just can’t lean on this enough, I’ve been repeating it since November and the press is just now noticing this:

    For the last thirty years South Carolina has chosen the Republican candidate

    If it does not, the rules go out the window; it it has, we are in real trouble even if Gingrich loses by a landslide

  251. 251.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    “Win SC, win the Republican candidacy” has been the Romney gameplan since last year; it’s the Rove gameplan; it just stumbled

  252. 252.

    JoyfulA

    January 21, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    @dww44: Newt’s one half-sister not only lives in Pennsylvania but has been appointed director of housing in the Corbett administration, for which her credentials are that she has lived in a house. (Corbett’s getting less popular by the day, thanks to refusing to tax fracking; by next week, he may be blamed for killing JoePa.)

    His other half-sister has been on Rachel’s show, stating that she’ll vote against Newt.

    Newt lived his early years in PA. His stepfather was a military officer, and Newt also lived in France before winding up in Georgia.

    Li’l Ricky has not lived in France, AFAIK. I wonder if Ron Paul did.

  253. 253.

    dogwood

    January 21, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    @Elie:

    Its not the organization’s fault that its candidate is terrible… THAT is the problem. They can’t see him no matter what they do… he can’t “sell” himself.

    Oh, I agree with you. He’s a lousy candidate, and I’ve been saying that here for months. Nonetheless, for someone who has essentially been preparing for this for over 10 years, he doesn’t seem to have put together a particularly impressive organization. I might be enough to beat Newt in the long run since Newt seems to have no organization whatsoever, but it is not in the same league as the Obama team. The day after New Hampshire I listened to Morning Joe for the first time in about a year. Chris Matthews was going on and on about Mitt’s great speech, and the advantage his perfect family would give him in the general. He also claimed that the Obama team was weak compared to Mitt’s organization. This is what the media thinks, but I think they are wrong.

  254. 254.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    Until this week I’d assumed that Obama would win easily even given all the historical problems with that assumption, and I’d assumed 2014 would likely be all right for the Democrats too

    But if Gingrich harnesses the American fascists, things could change drastically even if Obama wins

  255. 255.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    Now granted the best possible outcome is a very weak Republican candidate – Mitt Romney – limping into the general

    But that is in no way the guaranteed outcome

  256. 256.

    Chris

    January 21, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    If the 27% can ever find a man (has to be a man…women simply will not do for this) who has the charisma to not only lead them, but get enough of the mushy middle to go along, we could be living in a fascist dictatorship.

    Sure.

    27% only sounds like a small number until you remember that close to half of this country doesn’t vote, which effectively doubles that number. Throw in the number of people who may not be total 27%ers but get intoxicated with 27%-run media, and the mushy moderates who think the important thing is to find a reasonable compromise between the awful liberals and the 27%ers, or the people who don’t like the 27%ers but think those awful liberals are even worse because they’re just so shrill and DFHish.

    A dedicated, coherent minority is all you need, especially if you have enough elite support and if you’re part of the dominant ethnic group.

  257. 257.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    “Things will start to move very fast now . . .”

    For each week past SC, the pressure from Republican donors to end the primary season will increase exponentially

    If Gingrich wins state after state after state and starts looking better vs. Obama, Romney’s campaign may go broke very quickly

  258. 258.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    @Chris:

    VDE also underestimates the amount of Ron Paulers/crazy conspiracists who voted for Obama when he was seen as an insurgent, and who will not vote for him now simply because he is the President

  259. 259.

    jheartney

    January 21, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    But if Gingrich harnesses the American fascists, things could change drastically even if Obama wins

    America’s authoritarians were harnessed by the GOP years back. The thing that’s new is that their plutocratic masters may no longer be able to keep them from doing faceplants a la O’Donnell, Angle, and now, Gingrich.

  260. 260.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    For the last thirty years South Carolina has chosen the Republican candidate

    and until 2012, no Senator had won the presidency in over half a century, and until 2012 no Democratic ticket w/out a Southerner had won the White House since FDR and until 1980 it was impossible for a divorced person to win a national election

    Newt Gingrich is not the first poisonous, race-baiting, right-wing demagogue to capture the national spotlight. I sadly doubt he’ll be the last.

  261. 261.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    For instance: polls show that Obama took a huge chunk of the Truther vote, and of those among that group, 20-25% of Americans, who vote, they will vote for whoever is not in power because they believe whoever is in power is part of the conspiracy

    And if there is one thing a Republican can do, it is spin a conspiracy theory

  262. 262.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    I have arrived at the conclusion that the main failing of American liberals is that they can’t, won’t, refuse to realize that political and economic history reflects constant crisis

  263. 263.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    You see? The exact problem I mean

    These things are new, thus they don’t matter?

    What the fuck has that point of view ever done for anyone except get them fucking killed?

  264. 264.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    I’m guessing this is some sort of Kennedy-Johnson-Schlesinger disease, the myth of the easy ride down the river of liberal majority

    Combine that with the myth of saltwater/freshwater consensus in economics and you have a perfect recipe for elite, effete liberals to pat themselves on the back as they march into the camps

  265. 265.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    I am pissed enough to mangle metaphors worse than Matt Taibbi; non-liberals happen to live in this goddamn country too and if liberals fall asleep we all fucking get it between the eyes

  266. 266.

    AA+ Bonds

    January 21, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    “Ronald Reagan will never take the family values crowd; George Bush is still on his first wife”

    *glasses clink in the liberal suite*

    “My fellows we have this one sewn up!!”

  267. 267.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 21, 2012 at 11:27 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: Macomb County! Reagan Democrats! Angry Clinton Supporters! The Bradley Effect!

    OBAMA IS DOOMED!

    Seriously, dood, pour yourself a tall one.

  268. 268.

    Jennifer

    January 21, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I would add:
    DOGS AND CATS – LIVING TOGETHER! THE END IS NIGH!

  269. 269.

    Captain C

    January 21, 2012 at 11:41 pm

    @jl:

    It was conservative, particularly Austrian economists, economists who objected to the massive government involvement in the WWII effort. They wanted fancy tax and subsidy schemes to harnass free enterprise war winning know how and git ‘er done-ness.

    If true, this alone should disqualify Austrian economists from ever, ever being taken seriously.

  270. 270.

    Chris

    January 21, 2012 at 11:46 pm

    @Captain C:

    It is part of what (along with the Great Depression) disqualified free market economists for about a generation after World War Two, I believe. After the way the federal government managed that war, it became basically impossible for anyone to claim that “Government Is Inefficient.” You basically had to wait thirty years for the memory to fade.

  271. 271.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 22, 2012 at 12:24 am

    @WeeBey: Always bet on black.

    /Wesley Snipes

  272. 272.

    BruceFromOhio

    January 22, 2012 at 12:30 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m trying to figure out how you figured that out. I was thinking the meds ran out, or the Venusians found a way to penetrate the tinfoil. Or maybe just sleep deprivation. Or all three.

  273. 273.

    Rome Again

    January 22, 2012 at 1:25 am

    @dmsilev:

    Yes, especially since the last I heard Romney hadn’t committed to any more debates. I think he’s scared of Newt stealing the show and making bigger gains.

  274. 274.

    Rome Again

    January 22, 2012 at 1:30 am

    @AA+ Bonds:

    So wake them up! Your doom and gloom scenarios won’t get them to the polls.

  275. 275.

    Rome Again

    January 22, 2012 at 1:32 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Exactly!

  276. 276.

    Rome Again

    January 22, 2012 at 1:34 am

    @jheartney:

    GOP money created this problem, they can deal with it. I’m looking forward to the blowback. :P

  277. 277.

    Rome Again

    January 22, 2012 at 1:36 am

    @AA+ Bonds:

    Yeah, the guy who has all the big money interests is going to run out of funds. Are you high?

  278. 278.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    January 22, 2012 at 1:40 am

    South Carolina has fired the first shot, a loose cannonball named Noot, into Fort Gooper yesterday, officially launching the Anything But Civil War.

    This election is going to be one ugly motherfucker, that’s for sure.

  279. 279.

    ruemara

    January 22, 2012 at 2:06 am

    @AA+ Bonds: You seem thrilled to post your analysis, no matter how far off it is based on the facts.

  280. 280.

    Ron Paul

    January 22, 2012 at 2:56 am

    @Delia:

    I am listening to my local radio station’s Saturday Grateful Dead program. Jerry is singing Desolation Row.

    Ummmm… that’s Bobby.

  281. 281.

    Chuck Butcher

    January 22, 2012 at 3:20 am

    I’ve noticed a lot of this ‘Newt can’t win a civilized state’ kind of stuff that opts regions out. Ask Kay about her CD, if Newt could win the GOP Primary. I’d bet he can. A lot of you folks think Oregon is really quite liberal and at full state level, national level, and some CDs it certainly is – it also has a GOP that is flat out crazy scary. Newt could easily win a GOP nod in this state.

    Ohio GOP went fucking nuts for Sarah Palin – ugly nuts. A lot of these states some of you are going on about have larger squishy middles, but their GOPs are anything but squishy and they’re pissed.

    Of the people that know much of anything about politics nobody thinks Newt has a prayer against Obama, the national negatives make it laughable. Well, guess what – SC thinks he’s better than Romney. Not because statistics say so, because their pissed off guts say so. This is also going to play in those civilized places. This is the GOP, how many real informed voters is it you think you’re talking about?

  282. 282.

    Gretchen

    January 22, 2012 at 3:35 am

    @40 liberal: I found that fascinating. It begins to explain Santorum’s anger against abortion doctors and people who step outside the bounds of traditional marriage, that his wife spent her 20’s having a torrid affair and traveling the world with an abortion doctor, before settling into humdrum, boring everyday life with him.

  283. 283.

    Gretchen

    January 22, 2012 at 3:40 am

    @61 yutsano: Missouri is actually a Mormon center and important in their history. I think the Mormom Garden of Eden is here. I’ll give you Kansas and Nebraska, though.

  284. 284.

    Captain Howdy

    January 22, 2012 at 8:08 am

    South Carolina is a center of neo-Confederate thought and conspiracy theories about white victimhood at the hands of the Federal Government The Union are fed to the base from childhood.

    Maybe Ron Paul would have done better if he hadn’t disavowed hit cuckoo bananas newsletters.

  285. 285.

    Lojasmo

    January 22, 2012 at 9:40 am

    @AA+ Bonds:

    representing loud idiots

    Something about which you evidently know quite a bit.

    Looking over the subsequent few threads, you are the wirst concern troll ever.

  286. 286.

    Jim

    January 22, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    Agreed – to achieve something one must first set goals. Great post

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. The Mahablog » Good Analysis says:
    January 21, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    […] Dennis G.: The first real primary where all the participants are members of the Republican Party base is done. Newt wins and the Mittens coronation tour is over. Trench warfare now begins. […]

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