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.

Commentary On A Dying Party

Since the 2010 red tide, that allowed Republicans to capture the House of Representatives, and several state houses nationwide, there has been a definite sense of urgency driving these elected officials. Despite the claims that brought them to power regarding fiscal discipline, and job creation, what they have actually pursued is quite different. As if driven by the sound of a ticking clock, Republicans have concentrated their collective fire on the state and national level, on social issues. The very first thing they did when they took control of the House wasn't jobs legislation, it was abortion legislation. House Bills (HB)1, 2 and 3, all were attacks on abortion, and women's rights.


In states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey Republican governors went after collective bargaining rights, and anti-union legislation. They pushed voter ID Laws meant to target students, the elderly, and the poor, not to correct voter fraud (which was their premise), but as an attempt to disenfranchise voters who overwhelmingly vote Democratic. In Virginia, a new bill was introduced that said women seeking an abortion, must be mandated to have a trans-vaginal ultra-sound. A procedure which is not only invasive, but medically unnecessary.

Presidential candidates have launched a full fledged attack on individual liberties, under the guise of protecting religious freedom. In debates, their audiences cheer letting people die if they don't have insurance, cheer touts of having executed 235 people, boo active duty soldiers who put their lives on the line for our country because they are gay, and boo questions that demand their views on contraception, when they are the ones making it an issue?

The one overwhelming constant in their messages is their inability to give any hope to Americans. It is always in terms of what will happen "If". It is consistently negative, consistently divisive, consistently fearful, consistently pitting one group against another. Whether it's immigrants, unions, the rich, the poor, minorities, gays, the elderly, and now even women. These are called wedge issues for most people, but for Republicans they ARE the issues. You can almost smell the panic of a party that has gone to far to the Right, and knows in a relatively short period of time, for most Americans, this kind of derisive politics isn't going to resonate much longer. The party has become to old, to white, to entrenched in the past, and hopelessly incapable of attracting new members in a rapidly changing and diverse America, that rejects their reactionary ideals outright. To Republicans I can only issue this warning, "That your party, your hate, and your fear, will die... with you.

Final Republican Debate Was A Dud

Well if you missed the 20th and, if there is a God, last Republican debate last night, you didn't miss a thing. The final four squared off in Arizona, with just five days to go until that states primary with Michigan next Tuesday. While there was no real winner, there was a loser, and that was Rick Santorum. Father Rick basically played dodge ball all night. He was off message most of the debate, and got hammered from all sides which put him on perpetual defense. His responses were basically long winded admissions that he did do things contrary to what he is now advocating, and to top it off, when asked for a one word description of himself he said "courage." Well, I'm not sure what type of courage he was referring to, but it certainly wasn't courage of conviction. In a nutshell, he proved himself to be the Washington insider Mitt Romney claims him to be. Add that to a hostile Arizona Republican audience, and Father Rick was probably thanking God when it was all over.

Mitt Romney probably scored highest on points, but still couldn't knock it out of the park. Ron Paul had what I thought was his best performance, and Newt Gingrich did his best to remain relevant. The two hours passed slowly, and really didn't provide any new insights into the minds of these four horseman of the apocalypse. It is a consistent theme put forward by these Republicans of negativity, fear, and gloom, and it has become stale and tiresome to listen to on its unending loop.

I found it interesting that it took 45 minutes for CNN's John King to get around to Father Ricks religious crusade, and even when the subject was broached, it was done by presenting it as a question from an online viewer. The question raised a chorus of boos from the conservative audience as expected, and centered solely on birth control. They all painted this horrifying vision of President Obama with his boot heal on the neck of religion across America. It was just more of the same old fear mongering for the rest of us, but red meat for the conservative base.

As for the number one issue in America, "Jobs", there wasn't a peep. If I was an independent and watched last night, I'd be asking myself, "This is what they have to offer?" As for the implications going into next Tuesday's big contests in Michigan and Arizona, I think it safe to say Romney has stopped the bleeding, at least for now. Santorum withered under fire last night, and may have given Romney a much needed boost in his home state. Recent polls have the Michigan contest in a statistical dead heat, but I would bet Romney's lead begins to widen in the next few days. The result of Father Rick's poor showing last night, coupled with a week of radical theological babble, that has establishment Republicans, Independents, and women all moving toward the isles. Yes I agree with the former Pennsylvania Senator, the devil has his eyes set on America, and his name is Rick Santorum.

A Commentary On A Rough Few Days

It would be remiss of me not to rise above all the bomb throwing that has been going on in the Republican nominating fight, and point out a few things. First, there is poor Mitt Romney. Who has turned into his own worst enemy, and frankly is so disheveled one cringes at what he might say next. His speech in Michigan last week is a perfect example, he said he liked the lakes, and cars, and that in Michigan all the trees are the right size. All the trees are the right size? Did he leave his prepared speech in the car that day? and if he did, is that the best he could come up with? Throw in a another one of his stirring off key renditions of America the Beautiful, and sideshow would be complete. Add to that fact, that one week out from his home state primary in Michigan, he is still trailing, yet closing the gap on Rick Santorum. Father Rick currently leads there by 4 points in the latest polling. Some would say Romney's ship hits the iceberg, should he lose Michigan. My take is, he has already hit the iceberg, Michigan will prove whether he can stay afloat, or starts going down by the head.

Then we have Rick Santorum who must be exhausted from carrying that huge cross on his back all weekend. He challenged the Presidents religion, compared him to Hitler, inferred Obama is a Muslim, made a general indictment of the American public school system, said birth control is bad for women and the country, and asserted women shouldn't be in combat situations because of all the emotions involved. Whew! I'm tired just listing it. That is a lot of shit shovelling for one weekend, even for Father Rick.

There was one other thing he mentioned that I wanted to focus on, and that is prenatal testing. Here is what Father Rick had to say, "One of the mandates is they require free prenatal testing in every insurance policy in America," Santorum, a conservative Roman Catholic, told a Christian Alliance luncheon in Columbus. "Why? Because it saves money in health care. Why? Because free prenatal testing ends up in more abortions and therefore less care that has to be done, because we cull the ranks of the disabled in our society." He added that the requirement was "another hidden message as to what President Obama thinks of those who are less able."

Now I don't know if that's true or not, the fact is I don't care. Obviously Father Rick is pro-life, anti-abortion, but here again he oversteps the mark to the point of being offensive. Again, if he wants to feed this kind of ardent pablum to the evangelical masses in his party, while independents and moderates run screaming from the building, I say go for it. Because for every 10 voters he fires up on the right, he loses 100 voters in the middle, and that is not a recipe for victory in November. Speaking directly to the issue itself, I can think of a no more difficult situation, or greater hardship for parents, than learning their child may have a defect inutero that would prove life altering. However, the last time I checked, despite countless attempts by the Right to undermine it, abortion is still legal in this country. What if those parents don't have the means to properly care for a special needs child? What if the pregnancy may endanger the mother in some way? What if for any number of reasons continuing that pregnancy was not an option? Is Rick Santorum going to pay the bills associated with such a child, or make the sacrifices needed to provide proper care? Of course not! But that's not even enough for him, he has to continue by linking the President to this most incredibly difficult decision, by saying this is what President Obama "...thinks of those who are less able." As if the President is making the decision for all those who find themselves in this wrenching position. It is despicable on its face, not just to raise the issue in this light, but to link it directly to President Obama. It is contemptible, presumptuous, and just one more, of a growing number of reasons why Father Rick should not become President.

Can Gingrich's Southern Strategy Hold Against Santorums Surge?

There hasn't been much talk about the most hated man in American politics, of course I speak of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The fact is since his big upset in South Carolina, Gingrich has had to settle for the bronze is most of the contests that have followed. So the question is can he capture the South, or as I affectionately call it, "The Bumpkin Belt", to remain a viable candidate in the ever changing Republican primary process? His first opportunity at some of these states won't happen until Super Tuesday March the 6th. His home state of Georgia is in play, as well as, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia. He stated over the weekend, any candidate who loses their home state would be put into a very compromised position. The reference was more about Mitt Romney's upcoming battle against Father Rick in Michigan, but made the overall point about him in Georgia, Santorum in Pennsylvania, and Ron Paul in Texas. So lets look at some numbers, and see how Gingrich's would be strategy is looking at the moment.



In Georgia:

Gingrich - 41%
Romney - 26%
Santorum - 16%
Paul - 6%

So it looks like, for the moment, Gingrich has a comfortable lead in his home state. Georgia is also the biggest delegate prize on Super Tuesday with 76, and would probably give Gingrich the will to fight another day. Mike Huckabee won the state in 2008.






In Oklahoma:

Santorum - 39%
Romney - 23%
Gingrich - 18%
Paul - 8%

It would appear here, Newt is headed for another bronze, trailing Father Rick by 21 points. John McCain won the state in 2008.






In Tennessee:

Santorum - 34%
Romney - 27%
Gingrich - 16%
Paul - 13%

Once more Newt looks headed for a third place finish, but there is still plenty of time for these numbers to change. In a race as fluid as this one, and with Father Rick doubling down on crazy this last weekend, anything is possible. Mike Huckabee won the state in 2008.







In Virginia:

Romney - 68%
Paul - 19%

Virginia is going to be a shoe in for Mitt Romney as neither Newt Gingrich, or Father Rick, got their paperwork in on time to make the ballot. So Romney can count on at least one state win Super Tuesday. I wonder if the trees are the right height in Virginia, like they are in Michigan? I guess we'll find out later. John McCain won here in 2008.

So looks like Gingrich is holding in Georgia, but faltering in the other southern states where he hoped to make a play. So the beat goes on, the next big event on the horizon is yet another Republican debate in Arizona, this coming Wednesday night at 8pm on CNN. So take a Xanex, or three, and settle in for a night of laughs and lies. Newt lost his debate mojo in Florida, we'll see if he can recapture the magic come Wednesday.

Santorum Social Conservative or Fanatic?

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse Rick Santorum has gone off the rails. While pandering his special brand of zeal to the Ohio Christian Alliance, Santorum unleashed a barrage of harsh attacks against President Obama today, in an attempt to keep his religious crusade at full throttle. He said of the Presidents agenda, "it’s not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your jobs. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology, but no less a theology."

You know people, comments like this are not made by mistake. Just like Senator Santorum wanted to maintain some hidden mystery about the Presidents religion when he refused to correct a woman who called him a Muslim, here he attempts to reinforce that mystery, by in some way, invalidating the Presidents faith. Of course he tries to cover up this pile of crap explaining, "In the Christian church there are a lot of different stripes of Christianity," he said. "If the president says he's a Christian, he's a Christian." If I say Rick Santorum is a pious horses ass, he's a pious horses ass. Can you see what's happening here? It's just one more lame attempt to say the President is "Not one of us." He's a Muslim, a socialist, a communist, a NAZI, a Kenyan colonialist, the anti-christ! For Gods sake give it a rest!

The Obama Administration called Santorum's comments, "the latest low in a Republican primary campaign that has been fueled by distortions, ugliness, and searing pessimism and negativity." Did that stop Father Rick? Hell no, when your on a roll, run with it. Santorum rebuffed the Administration by saying, "If you don’t want to call it a theology, I’m fine, you can have them let me know what they want to call it, but it is a different set of moral values that they are imposing on people who have a constitutional right to have their own values within the church, and that’s not a new low. That’s a reflection of exactly what….it is a new low. I should go back, it is a new low. The President has reached a new low in this country’s history of oppressing religious freedom that we have never seen before. If he doesn’t want to call his imposition of his values a theology that’s fine, but it is an imposition of his values over a church who has very clear theological reasons for opposing what the Obama administration is forcing on them.”

He wanted to insure a woman's right to have access to birth control? He's not firing up some secular American Inquisition? He's not the one who wants to legislate what you do in the privacy of your own bedroom?! This kind of rhetoric makes me absolutely mental! Who the hell is Rick Santorum to tell the President, or anybody else, he doesn't pass the Santorum litmus test for what is religiously correct or incorrect? Last I heard we were a democracy, not a theocracy? I respect the fact that the man has serious religious convictions, but don't tell me I'm somehow sub-standard, because I don't live up to the Father Rick Bible Quiz! I mean where does this guy get off?!

Tread lightly Father Rick, that kind of garbage may be foder for your evangelical standard bearers, but nobody wants to have your religion, or any religion rammed down their throat. Least of all by some two bit, second string, conservative windbag like you. You are the worst of worst Senator. Now I know why you lost your Senate seat by 700,000 votes, because of your sanctimonious, judgemental, ungodly proclamations, that show just how Christian you really are.

Rick Santorum's Socially Conservative Religious Zeal Is Just Scary

The rights social conservative crusade, like most things Republican, has a very distinct tinge of hypocrisy. They want to tell you who you can love, what you can do in your own bedroom, what you can do with your own body, and attempt at every turn to legislate their own brand of religious morality. While on the other hand, if your some multi-millionaire, corporation, or industrial giant that has the potential to influence all manner of public policy that effects our economy, our tax code for the rich, regulations on banks, our water, our air, our food, and our environment, its hands off? It is a perspective that is to often lost in today's political discussions.
From attempting to strip funding for Planned Parenthood, have state referendums that dictate life begins at conception, to morphing a government mandate about fairness with regard to woman's rights, into a battle over religious freedom, the republican agenda is crystal clear.

Enter our man Rick Santorum. I spoke previously about his 2005 book It Takes A Family, but politician's who write books often give us a blueprint of the man behind the curtain, the man some individuals may otherwise not want revealed. In the recent HHS contraception mandate fight, Santorum was front and center in calling it an infringement on religious freedoms, well at least he's consistent.

So lets take a look at the world according to Rick Santorum? His political credo is Faith, Family, and Freedom, it is important to note the order here, because it's not only spot on, its quite literal. Lets look at some quotes from his book, as well as, some of his comments on the record.

From the Book:
"Conservatives trust families and the ordinary Americans that are formed by them. Liberals don't. They border on disdain for the common man."
"Ordinary Americans" who is he talking about? What is an "ordinary American? Again this is dog whistle political verbiage meaning white, christian families, that function in the 1950's traditional role where women stay home and raise babies, while men go to work. To be against this is to have "...disdain for the common man."

"We now have a generation that has grown up with the belief, inspired by the Sixties' free-love assault on sexual mores, that true love is a feeling, and that it should not be resisted or constrained--rather, its ultimate validation is through sexual relations, without regard to the outdated social convention of marriage."
Once again, lets get into our wayback machines and go back to the 50's where minorities, women, and homosexuals knew their place.

On the Record:
Republican former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum's statements about homosexuality and the right to privacy. In an interview with the Associated Press (AP) taped on April 7, 2003, and published April 20, 2003, Santorum stated that he believed mutually consenting adults do not have a constitutional right to privacy with respect to sexual acts. Santorum described the ability to regulate consensual homosexual acts as comparable to the states' ability to regulate other consensual and non-consensual sexual behavior, such as adultery, polygamy, child molestation, incest, and bestiality, whose decriminalization he believed would threaten society and the family, as they are not monogamous and heterosexual.
OK here we have a perfect example of Republicans who preach the horrors of big government, while telling you what you can and can't do in the privacy of your own bedroom? Maybe if it was Exxon and Mobil in the bedroom they would leave them alone?

In the interview by Associated Press reporter Lara Jakes Jordan When Jordan asked "Okay, without being too gory or graphic, so if somebody is homosexual, you would argue that they should not have sex?" Santorum's response concluded:"In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality —" (At this point, Jordan commented, "I'm sorry, I didn't think I was going to talk about 'man on dog' with a United States senator, it's sort of freaking me out", coining a phrase widely used in connection with this incident.
Here again, no matter your thoughts on the subject, Republicans have to take it to the extreme in an attempt to save their argument. No one is suggesting "man on dog" sex here. Its simply about the right of two consenting adults, regardless of their gender, to display affection for one another in the privacy of their own homes. Again they have to turn it into something they see as so repellent it borders on the edge of social anarchy.

He lamented the laws that overturned states ability to ban the sale of contraception in 1965. He further decried the law that outlawed interracial marriage in 1967. He has openly stated his support to allow states to once again ban contraception, and his homophobic rhetoric continues sometimes veiled, sometimes not. Regardless, this is the real Rick Santorum. He makes no excuses about what he believes, and what he stands for, and that my friends, is scary.

New Polling Has Rick Santorum Prepared to Overtake Romney

Yes it's true honestly, Rick Santorum. Lets go to the polling numbers.

In Ohio:

Santorum 36%
Romney 29%
Gingrich 20%
Paul 9%





In Pennsylvania:

Santorum 34%
Romney 32%
Paul 16%
Gingrich 15%



In Michigan:

Santorum 39%
Romney 24%
Paul 12%
Gingrich 11%

Mitt Romney is down by by 15 points in his home state of Michigan, just 13 days from the primary, that ladies and gentleman spells big trouble for Mitt Romney. He was raised in Michigan, his father was a popular Governor there, his mother even ran for Senate there. If he loses in Michigan, a state he carried big in 2008, all bets are off. Last August I predicted Romney would win the Republican nomination. I'm still not prepared to back away from that yet, but if he goes down hard in Michigan, it will be a massive game changer. Adding to his polling nightmare, in 3 out of 4 national polls he is either losing, or in a statistical dead heat against Santorum. In the era of "Citizens United" maybe money can't buy you the Presidency... Maybe? There is no question Romney has a serious disconnect with Republican voters, and with the conservative rebellion stared by Gingrich, and now catching fire with Santorum, Romney seems to be losing control of a dialogue he struggled with from the beginning. Here is his latest mistake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9fUJ87p9Htw

Here he makes an ad that touts his roots in Michigan, and then talks fondly about the American automobile industry, and the Detroit Car Show, all of which would be GONE if Mitt Romney had gotten his way. It is astounding that he dared to even go there?! If he thinks this ad is going to help him make up 15 points, with 13 days to go, guess again.

On the other hand, you have the rise of religious Rick. Who only 18% of Republicans think can beat Barack Obama, 55% think Romney can. So there sits the dilemma for Republicans. Do they go with the man who has the best chance to win that they hate, or do they go with the guy who has little chance of winning that they love? Make no mistake people, Rick Santorum is just as good as Newt Gingrich when matched against the President. Oh he has his hard right political convictions, and blue collar appeal, but he's just as big a whack job as Gingrich ever was. He just hasn't been baptised by the fire of being vetted by the media, or truly taken on by his opponents, because until now he was thought a non factor, but that's gonna change real quick. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take my Gingrich sign off the lawn to put up my new Santorum one.

A Mixed Week In Review All Around

Poor Mitt Romney, he doesn't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt. He ended the week up, with a negligible 3 point win over Ron Paul in Maine last night. At the CPAC convention this week, where all the real hardcore conservative crazies meet once a year. Mitt Romney said conservative so many times, maybe if he clicked his heals real hard three times he'd win the nomination. He suffered a major setback with Rick Sanatorum's trifecta in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado, which turned this nomination fight on its head. In keeping with the Wizard of Oz metaphors, Romney is like a Republican tin man. He's hollow with no political core, and desperately wants to capture the heart of the Republican party. Yet, every time he tries to shed a tear for the middle class, he rusts. Then he has to backtrack, and his campaign comes running with the oil can. If he admits he has a heart, he gets hit by the right. If he admits he's looking for a heart, Republican don't think he's the man for the job.

Rick Santorum's three state win on Tuesday gave his faltering campaign a much needed shot in the arm. He, and front runner Mitt Romney have now each won four states, Newt Gingrich has won one. Santorum has now also managed to put himself into the cross heirs of Mitt Romney's money machine. Look for him to flush the bombers against Santorum in the next two big contests, the primaries in Michigan and Arizona. Santorum also exposed his Achilles heal this week, by diving head first into the contraception mandate fight. It was his rigid religious dogma regarding women's issues, birth control, abortion, and his belief religion(christian religion specifically), is a corner stone of our governments power. As apposed to an individuals protected freedom to practice whatever religion they wish outside the reach of government. It was this very zealous conviction that got him kicked to the curb by the people of Pennsylvania in 2006 by more than 18 points. Thomas Jefferson once said, "If God is just, I tremble for my country." For a party who loves to invoke the founding fathers, they might do well to read what they actually said, as opposed to what they think they said.

Santorum wrote a book called It Takes A Family: Conservatism and the Common Good. The book was released on July 4th, 2005. Hows that for blatant irony that misses the mark. It was written in response to then First Lady Hillary Clinton's best seller It Takes A Village. Upon reviewing the then Pennsylvania Senator's book, The Philadelphia Inquirer referred to Santorum as "one of the finest minds of the Thirteenth Century". Id say that puts him right up there with Pope Benedict and the rest of the Catholic church, who have been trapped in the Thirteenth Century for some time now. I was raised Roman Catholic, I graduated from a Catholic High School, and for those who remain active in the church, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who buys Catholic dogma lock, stock, and barrel. The term used this week was "Cafeteria Catholic" those in the church who pick and choose what makes sense to them, and what doesn't. This is not a new phenomena. Catholics still active in the church go to give their hour to God, no matter how out of touch their religious leaders are, especially on birth control.

Finally, A big thumbs down to the Obama Administration for creating this shit storm in the first place. You had good economic news, poll numbers up across the board, and somebody lets this skunk out of the barn? The President lost control of the conversation almost immediately, and gave an uninspiring group of second string contenders for the Republican nomination a wedge issue they will now use for months. Add Catholic Bishops balking at the compromise announced Friday, and look for the big red toxic rhetoric machine to beat this issue to death, using misinformation and their hallmark scare tactics. I wonder sometimes if President Obama isn't happy unless he finds himself on the shitty end of the stick? A reasonable administration might tackle an issue like this in an off year, but an election year? All I can say is, "What were they thinking?"

Contraception Mandate Is A Republican Straw Man

Leave it to Republicans to once again create a problem where no problem exists. As the economy improves, and unemployment falls to 8.3%, suddenly jobs and the economy are taking a back seat to a renewed culture war. We have Rick Santorum pulling out the guillotine, demonizing the President like some kind of secular tyrant crying "let them eat cake!" The Republicans are masters at seizing on these kind of controversies and exploding them out proportion. In this case, turning access to contraception and birth control for women in institutions that serve the "Secular Public Good", under the protection of religious affiliation. Republicans have attacked the Presidents religious authenticity from day one. In March of 2010, A poll of Republicans told us this.

67% Think President Obama is a Socialist.
57% Think President Obama is Muslim.
45% Think President Obama was not born in this country.
38% Think President Obama "is doing many of the things Hitler did."
24% Think President Obama may be the Anti Christ.

THE ANTI-CHRIST???!!! Really??!! These are the same people calling this mandate an attack on religious freedom. Is Rick Santorum running for President or for Pope?! When a women in his audience not long ago called the President a Muslim, did Mr. Good Catholic Boy Santorum correct the woman? Of course not! Because it doesn't play to the Republican narrative that America is THEIR country, and THEIR country is Christian! Again, these are the same people who brought us the "War on Christmas" and whatever other non-sense they can get to resonate with all the radical right wing religious fanatics like Rick Santorum.

This mandate is NOT an attack on religious freedom. It's a labor issue, not a religious one. It doesn't effect a single church in this country, but Republicans would have you think Obama is coming for your Bible's. If you are a school, a hospital, or social services provider that operates in the real world, and the real world is SECULAR, than you are no different than anybody else. All these institutions are screaming religious infringement, while taking federal money in the form of Medicare and Medicaid, or education funding, or social welfare assistance. Why isn't anybody screaming about that? Churches in this country are making Billions of dollars in this country and don't pay one thin dime of it in taxes. The Catholic church alone could balance the national debt overnight! They are the biggest abusers of the avoiding paying taxes in this country, because they can hide behind the pillar of Religious Freedom. I for one am tired of driving by multi-million dollar mega church complexes all over the city of Atlanta, only to come home and listen to them bitch about providing birth control for women, who have just as much right to have these services, as anyone who works anywhere else. If the religious entities in this country want to operate "Secular Public Services" and avoid these kind of mandates then they need to start paying taxes just like everybody else, PERIOD. You STILL can't have it both ways.

Santorum's Three State Sweep Illuminates Republican Discontent

Just when you think you have this whole Republican primary thing figured out, a new surprise keeps us guessing. The latest coup compliments of Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, in what were supposed to be walk aways for Mitt Romney, turned into yet another indicator Republicans just don't like the former Massachusetts Governor. In Missouri, where Senator McCain won in 2008, Santorum won with an 18 point margin of victory, and carried all of the states 114 counties. The states delegates will be apportioned next month. In Minnesota, a state Mitt Romney carried big in 2008, he lost to Santorum here by a whopping 30 points, and with 4 counties yet to be decided, Romney didn't carry a single county here either. Finally, and probably most impressive, is Santorum's win in Colorado. The important western swing state gave Santorum a 5 point win here.

So in what was supposed to be a quiet February, where Mitt Romney was going to put a little distance between his fellow contenders, has turned into a real scrap for delegates. Where did this come from? Three things as I see it. First, the tidal wave of negative advertising between Romney and Gingrich has been instrumental in highlighting the flaws of two candidates who were heavily flawed to begin with. Second, Santorum's consistently weak showings up to this point, has allowed him to stay out of the firestorm of negative advertising and focus on his message. He also spent a great deal of personal time in these states, contests I think Romney took for granted. Third, The recent contraception mandate issued by the Obama administration is an issue made for Rick Santorum, and he has exploited it to the fullest, and I assume will continue to do so.

So lets look at the Republican Primary Map. PINK - Santorum RED - Gingrich DARK RED - Romney WHITE - Upcoming Contests through March 3rd.


The next contests on the list Maine's Caucus Feb. 11th, followed by the Arizona and Michigan Primaries on the 28th, and then the Washington State Caucuses March 3rd. All this leading us up to Super Tuesday on March 6th. In what was supposed to be a fairly uneventful primary process has turned into a scrum, and the biggest loser is Mitt Romney. This race is as fluid as ever, but look for a few things going forward. Rick Santorum has now become a real threat, so look for a new boatload of negative ads to come his way. Mitt Romney is not going to walk into this nomination, it's going to be a knife fight all the way down the line, and with Santorum surging in the bible belt, and Gingrich licking his chops for the contests in the bumpkin belt, this race is going to get very interesting in the coming weeks. Now here is the good part, the more people know about these candidates, the less they like them. So with a battle for the Republican nomination slugging it out until August, and each state proving how unhappy the electorate is with their choices. The result will be a battered nominee to weak to compete in November, while the whole time independents are running to Obama, it just doesn't get any better than that.

Religious Contraception Mandate Reveals You Can't Have It Both Ways

Oh God a religious issue, for those of you who know me read on at your own discretion. Health & Human Services Director Kathleen Sebelius announced plans this week to push forward with a plan to mandate coverage for contraception, and other related services, that primarily, but not exclusively effect catholic based health care providers. The Obama administration says all religious hospitals, charities, schools must pay for employees' birth control. Roman Catholic bishops and institutions across the country are mounting their defenses against the Obama administration's requirement to include contraception in employees' health benefits, a mandate they have been able to avoid for years. Nonprofit employers, who do not currently provide contraceptive insurance coverage based on religious beliefs, will have until Aug. 1, 2013, to comply with the new regulations. Although the mandate doesn't apply to churches, it does affect affiliated colleges, schools, social service agencies and hospitals. The majority of those effected are Catholic charities, and the narrow caveat for these groups is they can side-step this mandate if they solely employ Catholics, and treat Catholics who cling to what would be considered standard church dogma regarding contraception. However, in the real world scenarios in which these entities function daily, that would prove highly unlikely.

So the question is should these "religious" institutions be forced to operate under the same standards as everybody else? To which my answer is "Yes, absolutely." Why does Any town Hospital USA have to uphold these contraceptive mandates, and Catholic Any town USA Hospital not? Because they put the word "Catholic" before hospital? In houses of worship nationwide, not just Catholic ones, the basic tenants of church beliefs are taught week after week, without interference from the government to their congregations. It's called freedom of religion, and those beliefs remain untouched by this mandate, as they should be. Whatever your religious affiliation you have the freedom to worship, assemble, and teach your religious beliefs until you turn blue, and this is all done in a place we affectionately call "Church". Sanctuaries where you can explore and espouse your individual religions unabated by government.

However, I take issue with those "religious" entities who have for years practiced under the guise of helping the collective "public" good, while being exempt from "public" funded regulation, because they can hide behind the blanket of religious freedom. If you operate in the real world as a hospital, school, or social service, just because you put your religious affiliation before that hospital, school or social service's name doesn't make you a "Church". If you want the protections, tax exceptions, and other benefits religions in this country are afforded on a daily basis, then you must make hospitals, schools, and social services an extension of that "Church". You must serve catholics, with catholics, to provide for catholics. The very concept, is the definition of discrimination. Let's face facts here, the only difference between a bed in a public hospital and a catholic one, is the crucifix. Nobody who works for these institutions should be denied the same opportunities, that everyone else gets, because they add a word to their title that implies a religious affiliation, and if you think the Catholic church, or any other church for that matter, is a non-profit organization, I have some swamp land you may be interested in? You can't have it both ways.

We are all individuals, and no hospital, school, or even church, has the right to dictate how you live, or be given the power to encumber your choices. If you don't believe in abortion, don't have one. If you oppose birth control don't use it, if you hold these beliefs as part of your devotion to the teachings of the catholic church then practice them with all your might. However, organizations cannot continue to hide behind the hypocrisy of bogus religious ties in order to discriminate against individuals who may work for them, in a public context, at any level. If a low income agnostic woman is working for a catholic school as a janitor, should she be denied birth control because she does not believe in the catholic belief to the contrary? If so, then who is discriminating against who? If she had excellent credentials as a hard working professional in her field, but wasn't catholic, should that disqualify her for employment? Again, isn't that religious discrimination? So before we all get on our religious high horses, understand the real world implications of what these organizations are asking for and realize, you can't have it both ways.

The Establishment Strikes Back

In what will certainly be one of the top three battleground states of 2012, Mitt Romney pulled off a very convincing 14 point victory over Newt Gingrich in the Florida Primary. In what is essentially a two man race now, Romney pulled out all the stops, after suffering a big defeat in South Carolina to the former House Speaker. How did he do it? In a word "Money", something Governor Romney has plenty of, and is using quite effectively to smear Newt Gingrich into submission. He outspent Gingrich 5 to 1. His ads were 92% negative, and just as he did in Iowa, he has overpowered his opponents by sheer force in dollars. In this post "Citizen United" campaign world we find ourselves in, he spent $16 Million dollars in Florida alone.

However, there is still something missing from the equation. When Gingrich won South Carolina, the Republican establishment had a stroke. As a result, they threw everything but the kitchen sink at Gingrich to slow his momentum, and it worked. They took his 9 point lead and turned it into a 14 loss in 10 days. I thought it particularly ironic that John McCain, and Bob Dole, were the ones rallying to Romney's standard. They are the last two best examples of unpopular establishment candidates that were forced on the party faithful, only to lose big in the general election. All that aside, Florida is a big win for Romney. His biggest problem as I see it, is he doesn't know how to close the deal. This morning coming off his big win he said, "...I don't care about the poor, they have a safety net. I'm concerned about the heart of America." At a time when 1 in 2 Americans are at or below the poverty level, it's statements like this one that reveal just how disingenuous this guy really is. Again, the everyman putting his foot in his mouth, proving time and time again he has no clue about the middle class in this country. Why should he care about the poor? They can't contribute to his campaign, they can't possible garner the influence of his Wall Street contributors at AIG or Goldman-Sachs? Very strong words from a guy who makes $57 Thousand dollars A DAY, don't you think? The harder he tries to connect in someway to the middle class, the more he reveals himself as the spoiled man of privilege, that had everything handed to him on a silver platter, who pays himself $20 Million dollars a year from investment accounts in Switzerland, and the Cayman Islands, and hasn't got the slightest clue what middle class America is dealing with right now.

So where do we go from here? Well, Gingrich has vowed to fight to the end. This is excellent news for President Obama. The longer Gingrich battles Romney, the harder he has to pull to the right, and the more damaged he becomes for the general election. After only four contests, Independents are fleeing Romney in droves, and as I have always said, Independents decide elections. If he is this badly damaged after just four states, just think what he'll look like after fifty? Now, make no mistake about it, Romney is going to be the Republican nominee. There is no viable way for Newt Gingrich to win the nomination, it's just not going to happen. However, he has opted to crusade for the forgotten conservative base, those unwilling to stand behind another establishment loser, in the same vein as McCain and Dole. So the contest is joined, and will likely last until at least May. February is going to be a difficult month for Gingrich. The eight upcoming contests broke this way in 2008. Dark Red Romney won out rite, Red McCain won. These are the contests that lead up to March 3rd, Super Tuesday being March 6th.


These are all establishment states, and with only one establishment candidate, Romney should win all these contests handily. So it is going to be a long five weeks before Gingrich has a chance to garner some more delegates in the south, which is basically his only strong suit. However, Gingrich still has some powerful allies in radical right wing radio broadcasters, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and the like. This pit of vipers will be relentlessly attacking Romney through this entire period. A pretty hard core attack machine that won't cost Gingrich a dime, while he regroups for Super Tuesday. Bottom line, it's on, and if Gingrich can somehow keep it going, keep raising money to stay in the fight, and drag this out until the convention, the better it will be for Democrats and the President.

Finally, I want to mention Rick Santorum who is out of this race, and remains in it for one reason, he wants to be Vice President. So he is trying to play the "Sane" alternative to Gingrich's slash and burn conservative campaign. He too says he wants to continue to the end, but I predict he will be out by Super Tuesday, and then endorse Mitt Romney as his final play to get the number two spot. So it's on to Nevada and five more weeks of infighting. Thank You Newt Gingrich!

Romney Coronation Postponed, After A Rough Week For The Massachusetts Governor

Hold the phone people, we may just have a race on our hands for the Republican nomination. What was suppose to end as a 3-0 sweep for Mitt Romney, has turned into a 1-2 Free for all. Starting off, Romney finds out he has in fact, lost Iowa to Rick Santorum. Next, he is still struggling hard to connect with conservative Republican voters. This was evidenced by his 12 point shellacking in South Carolina. A victory that came just 2 days after polls put him up by 10 points. So how did he do it? By whipping up hard right conservative rubes, attacking the media elite, and in general tapping into a deep seated hatred for President Obama. The vision he paints for America is not conciliatory, or hopeful, or based on pragmatic substance of any kind. In the case of South Carolina, he won because he played to the baser dog whistle issues that gather great enthusiasm, particularly in the south. I found this incredibly evident while trying to make his victory speech in Columbia last night, while being constantly assailed by a handful of drunk rednecks in the audience. I almost felt bad for the man.

So what does this do for the race? Well, it makes it a lot longer, which is good for the Democrats. Three contests, and three winners, does not bode well for Romney in particular. He is the establishment pick, but the people STILL are not buying. The next contest in Florida now plants a crossroads. Does the establishment regain control with a Romney win? or does Gingrich pull off another win, which will begin, I believe, Romney's collapse. However, Florida is NOT South Carolina, make no mistake about it, and I think it will take more than a few good debate performances, and angry rhetoric to win there. He likes to demonize the President, but his vision for America gets lost in his hubris. There is a reason 60% of the American people don't like him personally, and those numbers come from FOX!

The other consideration to note now is Rick Santorum? Despite his 75% support from a meeting of evangelical leaders in Texas last week, Gingrich beat him by more than 2 to 1. He says he's staying in, but so did Rick Perry. If Santorum folds before the Super Tuesday primaries in March, all bets are off, because those voters will go overwhelmingly to Gingrich. I also don't see Santorum keeping pace in the cash race, not to mention his primary message is only resonating with a fraction of the conservatives he needs to continue. Faith, Family, and Freedom, would have played a lot better in 2004, than in 2012. Yes conservatives think family is important, but jobs and the economy are more important. If Newt Gingrich can take the issue of entertaining an open marriage, and go from Judas to Jesus in 6.5 seconds, while vilifying the liberal media at the same time, I think it's fair to say people just don't care about those issues as much in this election cycle.

Will conservatives be able to buck the establishment candidate they want, which is Romney? The question is more in doubt than ever, but if they do, you can bet Democrats will be saying "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause!" Why? Because Newt Gingrich will hand the Republicans the candidate they may want, but he will also hand them the biggest Democratic presidential victory since Johnson beat Goldwater. The man is loved by the far right, but he cannot win a general election. In South Carolina for the first time, polls suggested Republican voters thought Gingrich was the better man to beat President Obama. It's game on people! Now if you'll excuse me I have to put my new "Gingrich for President" sign in the yard.

Mitt Romney The Republican Everyman

I think it's time we took a look at Governor Romney the presumptive Republican favorite, in a light which is he doesn't care for, but portends some truths. Romney likes to go around the country and play the everyman. He pretends he's unemployed, tells his audiences how he has feared the pink slip many times in his life, that he understands the middle class of America. In this self made reality, he tries desperately to connect to regular people. However, his actions speak louder than his words, and no one else can see the reality HE is talking about.

Again, I not out to impugn anyones success, but lets face facts, if you come from money the chance that you will lose that status is incredibly weak. Mitt Romney comes from money, his father was very successful in the auto industry, and a former Governor of Michigan. Romney is the product of private boarding schools, and an Ivy League education. Upon college graduation he "got a job" (was handed a job) at Bain Capital, and his first home was purchased by his father. I think it is fair to say that this man has never worked a hard day in his life. He's never worked in construction, farming or agriculture, manufacturing, as an educator, first responder, or served in the military.

Today he has a net worth of roughly $250 Million dollars. Most of his money does not come from work, but things like tax shelters, dividends, and capital gains. The majority of these based in the Cayman Islands. he freely admits paying only 15% in taxes on these profits which make him anywhere from $9 to $30 Million dollars a year. Most middle class working Americans who make a minute fraction of that, pay around 32% in taxes. Romney will be the first to tell you "this is the way our tax system is set up." He will also tell you with regard to his income that "I get money for speaking fees, but not very much." He made $375,000 in speaking fees last year, not very much indeed. None of what I have mentioned is illegal, or suspect in its acquisition. It is a very clear view into what is known today as the 1%. In defense of his "living" he likes to throw around the term "The politics of envy", that the system is what it is, do not blame him. "I will not apologize for my success!" I suppose being born with a silver spoon in your mouth could be viewed as success, but I'm not sure mainstream Americans are buying that.

If you make $10 Thousand dollar bets like it's pocket change, and profess wanting to help the middle class housing situation, while proclaiming the housing crisis should collapse, so more people can rent their homes. If you advocate letting the American auto industry fail, and that it should not be bailed out by the government. Then look back to 1991 when Bain & Co. took a $10 Million dollar government bail-out which eventually made him millions. If you accuse the President of crony capitalism, while your biggest Super-Pac contributors are tied to companies like AIG, as well as, some of the biggest Wall Street offenders who only survive today because of a massive taxpayer funded government bailout. While none of which have been prosecuted, and who today are reaping record profits and bonuses. Then your credibility suffers as a result. I'm not sure, but I don't think most Americans enjoy a shoe shine on the tarmac, before they hop on their private planes? If this is how you live, and you balk at releasing your tax returns, I have a problem? If you have made millions over the years as a corporate raider who's destroyed peoples lives, so you and your company could turn a profit, I have a problem? If your tax policy for people who make $20 Thousand dollars a year or less, increases their taxes 60%, I have a problem? If your tax policy for those who make $1 Million dollars or more a year, cuts their taxes by 15%, I have a problem? If you think this kind of policy should be discussed in "quiet rooms" away from the public eye, right again, I have a problem?

Mitt Romney wants us all to embrace him as the everyman, yet nothing could be further from the truth. At a time when income inequality, and the divide between the Mitt Romney's of the world, and the rest of us, is growing exponentially, take a moment to see the real Mitt Romney. A very rich man in the 1%, supported by big money interests in the 1%, to promote public policies that favor the 1%, and be the nominee of a Republican party that vows to protects those interests. So don't be fooled, the next time you hear Romney invoke the poor, the working people, the middle class, recognize he hasn't got a clue what he's talking about. The only everyman people see in Romney is the one who shows every position on every issue, and only God knows how many that is.

Money, Money, Everwhere, Takes Away OUR Voice

As South Carolina approaches, and with it the probability that Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee, I think the money at play in this election cycle deserves a look. Everyone by now is familiar with the "Citizens United" case, that has opened the flood gates to a sea of money in our political campaigns. You can contribute as much as you want, as often as you want, and do it all without disclosing who, or where the money came from. America will now be at the mercy of the highest bidder. Now some of you may be asking yourself "So what's changed?" Well let me tell you. While it is true we have been at whim of lobbyists for big business, corporations, unions, banks, insurance giants, big oil, and the rich in general, and Congress has operated like puppets to these entities for decades; something new has been added to this mix. In the simplest form, in the most convenient definition, and on top of and including the laundry list I have noted above, lets introduce unlimited money. The big money interests of this country were declared "people" by the Supreme Court in 2010. So, no matter what you represent foreign or domestic, corporate or individual, if you have big money, American style politics has become your new best friend. There are no limits, no disclosures, and no stopping the wealthy enterprises of America to buy our elections outright.

At a time when 1 out of 2 people in this country are living at, or below the poverty level. At a time when the middle class is shrinking, and incomes are flat. At a time when the disparity between rich and poor has never been greater. Isn't this just another indictment that our country is in fact a plutocracy? Do public employees, the elderly, the middle class, the working poor, all those who the Occupy folks would call the 99%, can we the people, run million dollar ads to promote the candidates of our choice? I certainly can't, can you? For the huddled masses all we have is our vote. A vote that record breaking billions will attempt to buy this year by trying to influence your choice. The ads will be nasty, bleak, nonfactual in most cases, and be poured out on the airwaves ad nausea until November, and somewhere under all this money, is our democracy drowning under the weight of a Tsunami of big money interests.

I will not pretend that both parties will not profit from this new spoils system, but make no mistake, the Republicans are the ones who pander to the majority of these interests. They are the ones who protect all those entities I mentioned before, and they are the ones who will profit most from this new money take all election cycle. Make no mistake, the Republicans are about to nominate a multi-millionaire, who was a corporate raider, and made his living on the backs of the very people he now claims he understands, and sympathizes with. Just because you use middle class in your speeches doesn't make you an advocate. Just because you claim concern for the poor, even though you haven't got the slightest idea what that is, certainly brings no comfort to the poor.

If you are wealthy, if you have means, good for you, I'm not out to impugn any ones success. Richard Nixon addressing his staff for the final time said something to this affect "...only when you have been in the deepest valley can you appreciate how glorious it is to reach the highest mountain." We have alot of people running our government right now that have always lived on that highest mountain, and as a result have lost touch with what it means to be in the deepest valley. Here in lies our great dilemma. We have become a country of haves and have nots, and the division is growing. Many people suffer under the delusion that because our leaders and big money interests live on the mountain, that one day they can live on that mountain too. The shinning city on the hill is reserved for a select few, they hold the power, and they choose who gets into the neighborhood. They hold out their hands at election time promising to pull us up to allow us to see what they see, but they never quite reach, and those poor people will vote against their own personal interests just to to get a glimpse at the mountain top. In the meantime, those of us in the valley strive for the day when everyone can climb that mountain, through hard work, a decent wage, take care of our children, give them an education, and retire in comfort after a lifetime of labors, that is the American Dream, and we are losing it. Losing it to a select few with the most influence, the most power, the most money. So when Mitt Romney wins South Carolina this Saturday ask yourself, is a corporate millionaire the person who can restore our American Dream? ...or is he part of the problem?

Romney Takes New Hampshire While Conservatives Founder

Mitt Romney has won his second contest, and first primary of the season. He is also the first non-incumbent Republican to win both Iowa and New Hampshire. So where are we now? First, Romney has finally broken the 25% ceiling capturing about 37% of the vote. Second, Ron Paul's number two finish couldn't make the Romney camp happier. Paul's libertarian 25% are a real spoiler for conservatives, not to mention Jon Huntsman who put all his eggs into New Hampshire, and came away with a third place finish. All in all, Romney should feel pretty good about heading into the next contest in South Carolina. How did this happen? Well when you have a Republican electorate that believes you can have an amorphous position on any issue, can't tell the difference between fact and fiction, and lives on a steady diet of pablum from FOX News, and Rush Limbaugh, you get Mitt Romney. He's done his time, it's his turn at bat. As the saying goes, Republicans don't fall in love, they fall in line.

As for the conservatives, they are in chaos. Why Rick Perry is still in this race is anybodies guess? However, after a poor showing in Iowa, and a somber speech to re-evaluate his candidacy, less than 12 hours later "We're on to South Carolina!" I have no proof of this, but my hunch is Romney made a phone call promising Perry a place in his new administration if he stayed in. In any event the turn around was rapid, and highly suspicious. Gingrich who got carpet bombed by Romney ads in Iowa, is going to return the favor in South Carolina, and once again this is probably just going to help Obama in the long run. Gingrich continues to drop in the polls, and is going to launch as many torpedo's as he can at Romney, before he goes down on his own ship. The question is will the Gingrich attacks work? possibly, but he certainly won't reap any of the benefits personally. Santorum's faith, family, and freedom message will probably resonate in South Carolina. This from the man who said in last Saturday's debate, "their are no classes in America." OMG! really Rick? He is also still battling the money and organization problem. Huntsman is planning to continue his challenge to Romney in South Carolina, but to what effect? You have 3 conservatives, a libertarian, and a moderate all still thinking they can steal S.C. from Romney, and nothing could be further from the truth. All they are doing is continuing to fracture the electorate, insuring that Romney wins.

There is something else worth mentioning here. Romney's fervor to portray himself as the everyman. A multi-millionaire, with million dollar homes dotting the landscape, who says he's unemployed, and has feared the pink slip, is offensive in the extreme. To paint himself as a standard bearer for the working middle class of this country is nothing short of hysterical. The man is the living embodiment of Gordon Gecko. A man who has slashed and burned companies at the expense of the workers, in order to bolster his investors bottom line. It is Republican hypocrisy in its purest form. An independent evaluation of his economic plan said taxes on those making $40,000 a year will increase, while Millionaires will get a %5 tax cut, that's your REAL everyman. Of course this doesn't bother all the hard line, right-wing, free market, capitalists, they live to make money off the misfortune of others. You know, survival of the fittest, Wall Street personified. New Hampshire's motto works great here: Live Free or DIE! At any rate, if he can sustain the next barrage of attacks leading up to South Carolina and pulls off another win, its probably game over. However, if by some miracle one of the conservatives pulls off a win, we'll have a whole new ball game. Personally, Romney seems to have a Teflon coating that his opponents just can't get past. He puts plenty of shit out, but nothing his fellow candidates throw his way seems to stick. My money is on Romney, but I'd love to be wrong.

As Iowa Goes, So Goes Iowa

Finally, the dog and pony show that is the Iowa Caucus is over, and once again we're left with more questions than answers. Even with a razor thin victory for Mitt Romney of only 8 votes, I think it's safe to say evangelical social conservatives, are clearly still not on board. I also think it's clear that if the evangelical social conservative vote wasn't fractured by Perry, Bachmann, and maybe even Gingrich, Rick Santorum would have run away with Iowa. So the first Republican contest was decided by those fine folks who brought you the climate change hoax, evolution, creationism, and anti-abortion domestic terrorists. These people beleive you put your hand on the Constitution to uphold the Bible. Be that as it may, despite their best efforts to pick a President instead of an ideology, Iowans just couldn't help themselves. Those 8 votes that carried the state for Romney may well have saved Iowa's relevance, as the first in the nation contest, and then again maybe it won't.

So what happens next? Well Romney still has the 25% glass ceiling problem. Ron Paul's libertarians also seems stuck at around 20% So that leaves 55% of conservative voters still clamoring for a candidate other than Romney. Has Rick Santorum become that man? (God I hope so), If Perry and Bachmann bail out this week, does Santorum get those votes? Does he have the money and organization to go the distance?

Well lets see, If Perry and Bachmann bail, or better yet endorse Santorum, we may have a contest on our hands. Does Santorum have the organization and money to go the distance? No, plain and simple. He may get a money boost in the coming weeks, but the next 3 contests are coming on to fast for any new found gains to make an impact. Lets not forget Newt Gingrich waiting in the wings for a come back of his own. He has vowed to take the gloves off against Romney, whose negative adds in Iowa cut his support in half. So for the next few weeks, or at least until South Carolina, Gingrich is out to damage Romney any way he can. This won't help Newt, his negatives are just to great, but it might help Santorum. So it's gonna be a nasty couple of weeks I'd say, and the real winner here is President Obama. They are creating his re-election commercials for him.

I'm still standing by my prediction that Mitt Romney will get the nomination, and despite a weak 8 point victory in Iowa, it still goes in the "W" column. He has a comfortable lead heading into New Hampshire next week. So, the issue now is can he hold onto it under the whithering fire he no doubt is going to feel in the next 6 days. New Hampshire will be his first opportunity to shatter the 25% barrier, unless the coming wave of attacks impacts that lead. Six days is an eternity in politics, and if conservatives can begin to consolidate around Santorum, and he makes a top 3 showing in the granite state, South Carolina will be lining up to be a real battle royale.

In a nutshell, Perry, Bachmann, Huntsman, and Gingrich are finished. Some will drop sooner than others, but trust me their all done. Ron Paul will go the distance with his 20% and hopefully run as an Independent (but I doubt it), and Rick Santorum will be the Mike Huckabee of 2012, but will be unable to compete long term. His money and organization will be unable to keep up with the pace of the contests, and eventually he too will fold. So once again the mainstream moderate conservative will win the nomination, and over half of the Republican electorate will be pissed off about it. Keep your T.V.'s on, its going to be a bumpy ride the next 2 weeks, and should also prove very entertaining.