Republicans Are Out Of Touch And In Turmoil

If you have watched even fifteen minutes of any national news,(except FOX of course), you can't help but see this giant Hindenburg of the Republican party filled with highly flammable gas, descending into its moorings. Then, as it approaches bursts into flames in horrific fashion, while the country watches speechless, and in terrified amazement.

If you need a little help with that visual click here: Hindenburg
Disaster - 1937 - Herb Morrison reports

Republicans are in a far Right feeding frenzy, and they just can't stop. As they crash and burn, you can't help but watch, but what does my analogy mean? First, we can point to the ongoing purge of moderates from Congress. This week Senator Olympia Snowe (ME-R), announced she would not be running for re-election in the fall. Her reasoning, increased pressure from the hard Right in her party, and the ongoing polarization of politics in Washington. In Indiana, long time moderate Republican Senator Richard Lugar is facing a serious Tea Party challenge in a primary there. In Utah, long time conservative Senator Orrin Hatch is facing a similar fate. In 2010, it was moderate Senator Evan Bayh (IN-R) who left siting the same reasons Senator Snowe mentioned, and it's not limited to the Republicans. In 2010, moderate Senator Blanche Lincoln (AR-D) was forced from office. This year you can add moderate Senators Kent Conrad (ND-D), Ben Nelson (NE-D), and Joe Liebermann (CT-I) to the list. All of which leads to a body in which almost every member thinks "Compromise" is a dirty word. The result, government gripped by narrow ideological dogmas that do nothing but entrench their own personal politics, over the general welfare of a people desperate for government to address their problems.

However, since 2010 when Republicans captured the House, we have seen gridlock on a scale never before seen. The only highlight, a budget battle last summer that Republicans took to the wire, costing the United States its AAA bond rating. It was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who listed the Republicans number one goal in 2010 was not to create jobs, improve education, or invest in infrastructure, it was to defeat Barack Obama. It was this same Senator who took to the Senate floor this week to support stripping all manner of women's health care, at the whim of her employer, with the Blunt-Rubio Amendment. While the amendment went down 51-48, he argued that President Obama took over the banks, took over the auto industry, and now wants to take over religion. In what can only be classified as a dispatch from fantasy land, it is this type of hard Right rhetoric that find the Republicans consistently on the wrong side of the argument. Do they realize how ridiculous they sound with comments like this?

Then we have the two Republican presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, or as I affectionately call him Father Rick. First, there is Mitt Romney. A man who is so uncomfortable in his own skin, I get nervous just watching him. He is a man of obvious privilege, who definitely dwells within the ranks of the 1%, and is hopelessly trying to connect with regular middle class voters. The problem is he hasn't got a clue about how middle class people live, how hard they work, or even what they like? The disconnect is so bad at this point, the gaffs are coming on a daily basis. He won't talk to the media because he's petrified he'll say the wrong thing, and continues to portray himself as a man on every side of any issue, in a desperate attempt to tell people what they want to hear. It's like when he's off stage, his handlers are constantly beating the moderate out of him, forcing him to be something he isn't, and it shows every time he opens his mouth. It is really sad to watch as an observer.

Then we have Father Rick, who has captured the ultra social conservative lunatic fringe of the Republican base. So poor Mitt Romney has to continuously pander to these loony tunes, in order to somehow create some kind of appeal for a message he is instinctively uncomfortable with. It is truly reality T.V. at its best. However, courting the crazies does have its cost. A new Super Tuesday poll from Ohio, which Santorum needs desperately, showed his lead in that state cut from 11 points to 4 with just 4 days to go. In a party that wants to party like it's 1959, rehashing issues long settled, while alienating about 70% of the women in this country. They are on a path that will leave them so damaged come November, their general election appeal will win them about 4 States. To which I can only say, "keep talking boys, keep talking."

Romney Pulls Out Big Win In Michigan

After weeks of speculation and a growing threat from challenger Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney re-established his front runner status last night. In Arizona, Romney beat Santorum by 20 points, and carried every county in the state. In Michigan, Romney's home state, He pulled out a 3 point win against a surging Father Rick. So now that the dust has settled, Romney has emerged to fight another day. This despite a campaign that has been foundering, and desperate to find a way to connect with conservative voters. While this win in Michigan has put the wind back in his sails, it failed to take any out of Santorum's, who remains a real threat one week out from Super Tuesday.

Let's also not forget the Washington State Caucus this Saturday March 3rd, where the latest polling had Santorum winning here by 11 points against his closest competitor Romney.

So where do we go from here? Well the contests are going to become more frequent, starting with Super Tuesday on March 6th, which has 10 contests, with over 400 delegates ups for grabs. Then from March 10th to the 24th another 11 contests will follow fast and furious, holding another 381 delegates for distribution.

My take on all this? Mitt Romney got his must win in Michigan, but it had nothing to do with Mitt Romney. Michigan was Rick Santorum's to lose, and he did just that. Father Rick's ultra conservative religious diatribes over the last 10 days hurt him in Michigan, where he had a comfortable lead just one week ago, only to lose it, and hand Romney a 3 point win. While Santorum shot himself in the foot in Michigan, he is far from out of the race. However, the tables have been turned, and the pressure is now on Father Rick to win in Ohio. He holds an 11 point lead there currently, but a week is an eternity in politics, and with Romney regaining momentum, will Father Rick be able to hold on there? If Super Tuesday was held today I'm guessing the states would fall like this:

ROMNEY:
Alaska
Massachusetts
Idaho
North Dakota
Vermont
Virginia

SANTORUM:
Oklahoma
Ohio
Tenneesse

GINGRICH:
Georgia

A little bit for everybody, and a very good indicator that this process is far from over. Some things to consider? 1) Can Romney use this new momentum to his advantage? In a campaign plagued by gaffs, and no real message other than "I'm better than the other guy" can he finally find a way to rally Republicans, and more importantly, attract conservatives? 2) Did Rick Santorum's ultra social conservative rants on contraception, education, and religion, damage his candidacy to a point he may not be able to recover? He let a lot of genies out of the bottle in the last 10 days, genies that can't be put back in the bottle. Did he destroy his chances as a general election candidate, by trying too hard to fire up the conservative base? 3) If Newt Gingrich wins in Georgia, as expected, will that be enough to keep him in the race? There is no question should Gingrich remain, it helps Romney. In fact, Romney's win in Arizona was in large part due to Santorum and Gingrich splitting the conservative vote there. This roller coaster ride continues, starting Saturday in Washington State. Who will survive the twists and turns, as things get fast and furious, we shall see.

Rick Santorum Theocrat In A Democracy

I have never seen anything like Rick Santorum in my life. Once again he doubled down on crazy over the weekend, which for him is becoming a daily occurrence. He said the notion of religion not playing a role in politics “makes me want to throw up." He continued, "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes me want to throw up. What kind of country do we live in where only people of non-faith can come in the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up. And that should make every American [throw up]," Santorum said on ABC's This Week. The former Pennsylvania senator was referring to John F. Kennedy’s famous 1960 speech that argued religion should be separate from politics. "I don't believe in an America where the separation between church and state is absolute," he said.

Now just to be clear here, I'm not suggesting people of a particular faith cannot participate in our government. Frankly, that has been an unavoidable fact for over 235 years. However, I draw the line when a political candidate wishes to impose his own particular brand of religion into the lives of the American people, whether they happen to agree with him or not. Oh and just for the record, its against the United States Constitution. You know that wonderful governing document that Republicans love to shove in every body's face when it's convenient for them, and hide it under a rock somewhere when it's not. If I had a dime for every conservative who's screamed about upholding THEIR interpretation of the Constitution, I'd be a millionaire. Now you have a Republican presidential candidate openly fly in the face of that very document, and what do you hear from the Right? A chorus of crickets!

Rick Santorum needs to find his way to a Catholic Parrish house, not the White House. He needs a church pulpit, not a bully pulpit in the oval office. He needs a congregation, not a delegation. There is no way around it, this man is off his rocker! I understand on Aaron Klein's WABC Radio Show, former New York Mayor Ed Koch called him "Nuts" today, well I'm right there with you Mayor, the interview will air tonight. I think there is a bumper sticker out there that says "The last time we mixed religion and politics people got burned at the stake." My question is where can I buy one. I'm making light of this a little, but this is serious as a heart attack, Father Rick is certifiable. Here is a little something that might enlighten my good readers about the impact of fear in the imposition of religion in the United States. Lets not let Rick Santorum add to that list in the year of our Lord 2012.

DID YOU KNOW:

THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WAS RATIFIED IN 1789 HAD ONLY ONE REFERENCE TO RELIGION [ARTICLE 6] NO RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER BE REQUIRED AS A QUALIFICATION TO ANY OFFICE OR PUBLIC TRUST UNDER THE UNITED STATES.

THE DE FACTO MOTTO OF THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED AS PART OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS IN 1782 WAS E. PLURIBUS UNUM [OUT OF MANY ONE] CONGRESS CHANGED IT 174 YEARS LATER. [1956] TO IN GOD WE TRUST

THE ORIGINAL "PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE" WAS WRITTEN IN 1892 BY BAPTIST MINISTER FRANCIS BELLAMY WHO DID NOT INCLUDE THE WORDS "UNDER GOD." THOSE WERE ADDED BY CONGRESS 62 YEARS LATER. [1954]

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT ISSUE CURRENCY UNTIL 1861, AND "IN GOD WE TRUST" DIDN'T APPEAR ON IT FOR 96 YEARS. [1957]

JUST AFTER THE RED SCARE OF THE 1950'S, CONGRESS CHANGED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OUR NATION'S MOTTO OVER THE FEAR OF COMMUNISM.

In a time when FEAR is traded like a commodity, and the word Socialism is being used the same way Communism was used then. Remember that our Nation wasn't founded on FEAR. Our Nation was founded out of hope for a world where all people were equal, that we were ONE FROM MANY.

Lets not let FEAR change our nations great tradition and direction again.

Rick Santorum Run Away Train

He is out of control, the Republican establishment can't stop him, and with each speech he gives, he does more and more damage to the general electorate. As long as Father Rick maintains his momentum, it looks like nothing can stop Santorum's hard line brand of social conservatism. From Satan eyeing America's soul, to his radical theological view on women's rights. Views he would gladly impose on contraception, and abortion contrary to existing law, doesn't just stoke the Republican culture wars, for him, it's personal.


He continued that theme this morning on NBC's Meet The Press. When moderator David Gregory played a clip of President Kennedy's 1960 speech distancing himself from the Catholic church, where he proclaimed an absolute separation between church and state. Santorum responded that was wrong, that in fact religion should drive social policy in American government. He openly admitted that christian religious values should actively dictate public policy. I have never heard a conservative state that flat out. Religion has been touted as personally helpful, a guiding force, a consideration of moral implication, but never before advocated as a driving force in a candidates public policy goals. While some may dismiss this, it underscores the comfort of those on the Right to publicly exclaim this as part of their personal narrative, as a candidate for President of the United States. I believe this is over reach on a gigantic scale, and will do serious damage to Republican efforts to win the White House, it is unprecedented in it's effect.

Just to give you a little perspective hear is what the Constitution says about this:

AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof:...

That's it folks, that's all the Constitution says about Religion. By promoting an agenda of public policy based on one religion, you automatically create an establishment of religion with-in the state. Not to mention the implied discrimination against those of other religions, or no religion at all. Now you tell me Rick Santorum doesn't want a theocracy? he freely admits it. There is no putting this toothpaste back in the tube.

It doesn't stop there either? Santorum called President Obama "a snob" for saying every American child should be able to go to college. "Why does Obama want everybody to go to college? So his liberal college professors can be indoctrinating people like he has," Santorum actually said this! Then he makes the leap that America's college's and universities are some kind of liberal indoctrination camps? Which totally plays into his contempt for the public school system in America. All his kids were home schooled, he wouldn't dare subject them to the undergraduate and graduate liberal academia, that may somehow contribute to making his children, oh I don't know, free thinkers? His kids are only allowed to believe the narrow dogma, and theological rantings of what he considers acceptable.

How sad for this man, how sad for his children, and how sad for America that in the year 2012, this man is a viable choice to be the Republican nominee for President? This man is out of control, and probably the biggest danger to the United States since NAZI Germany. How's that for a Hitler reference. Here is the really scary thought kids, people who support this man are in every state, in every corner of our country. They like what he's selling, and come November are willing to buy. I know the Left will rally against this wingnut, but this battle is going to be settled by moderates and Independents, will they hear what he's preaching? or will they vote for him because gasoline is $5.00 a gallon? Think about that? Yes, it's the economy stupid, but despite recent gains, people vote their pocketbook. If Rick Santorum is the Republican nominee will that be enough? For a lot of people in this country it will be, and that my friends is dangerous beyond words.