A Question for the Board...

[rockdog]

I occasionally come to the politics board and look around. The mentality is a little too far to the right for me, but that's ok. Everyone has the right to their own opinions and political beliefs. I just don't agree, so I just keep to myself.

On to my question - Why is the republican party getting behind Newt?

This has been the funniest thing I've seen in some time from the GOP. The hopes of the republican party for the 2012 election are on Gingrich? I can't decide if it's about running out of candidates, hope, or what. There is no way in the world that you guys can sit back and honestly think that Gingrich is a good candidate and has any chance of beating Obama, is there? I understand the Obama hate. I got it. I understand that you want someone else in the White House, but is it that mentality that has caused the Republican party to think that Gingrich is a good choice? This man has a horrible record. He's shadier than John Edwards. He's a career politician. He's everything the GOP should be against for an opponent for Obama, but I see people jumping on board.

I don't get it. I need someone from the "Right" to explain it to me. I'm Mr. Middle of the Road. My voting record indicates it. My card reflects it. I don't understand the interest or intrigue for Gingrich. It is far beyond been there and done that.

I voted for Ron Paul during the last election since someone got him on the ballot. I will vote for him if possible this year. I wish the GOP would either get behind Paul, who could bring out the young, disinterested, and independent voters, OR I wish Huntsman would get a little more attention. Romney is not the answer, and the media keeps forcing him down our throats. There is a bias against Ron Paul though. Article from the AP today discusses the GOP spot being a two man race between Newt and Mitt despite Paul finishing second in the Iowa Poll. (http://news.yahoo.com/romney-gingric...101636778.html)

Anyway - I just wanted to hear it from you guys. I'm just interested in the response because I just don't get it.

[T_Won]

Tough question.

Bottom line is that the field is not that strong. Collectively, they would make a great cabinet for a president because they are so diverse and all have good ideas, but singularly, none of them are the "Obama 2008" candidate for the Republicans. So now you must look to which one has the best chance to beat Obama. They think this will be easy if they can just find a candidate who won't hurt themselves with gaffes or a crazy past, etc... It just needs to be someone who presents themselves as competent enough to earn the "anti-Obama" vote. As candidates have gone down with gaffes and crazy pasts, we are left with 2 men standing: Newt and Romney. Both are big government Republicans and really don't offer true conservatives a choice in this election (yet again). But both are stable enough to garner anti-Obama votes. It may even end up being a Gingrich/Romney ticket. So are we excited about it? No. Are either a better choice than Obama? Absolutely!!!!

[ChipDog]

Newt seems to be the guy with most folks, but I would still personally like to get behind Sarah Palin.

[Cal&Ken]

Newt seems to be the guy with most folks, but I would still personally like to get behind Sarah Palin.

I like Sarah Palin very much too, but don't think she can win. Newt at this point is not my ideal candidate (Sarah isn't either), but for me, Newt is the best choice of those that are running. Romney is my least favorite, followed closely by Perry.

[hookdown]

Which brings up an interesting question, does the GOP nothave any good candidates (if not, why not?) period, or are there are great andelectable candidates out there but have a few skeletons in their closets andwish to keep them private, or that there are great and electable candidates outthere but choose not to run because the whole darn process is just sodetestable and designed to bring out the worst in people rather than the best?Not to mention that the process is extremely taxing and demands extremesacrifices on the part of the candidate and their family.

I suspect that the answer may be one of the last two choices.

Rockdog I understand your confusion on this. I have it too. Given the folksthat are left, it looks like I will be voting 3rd party again this year. I donot have a problem voting for either Republicans or even Democrats if they havethe same beliefs as me. I am beholden to no party. I will not vote for someonethough if they are ideologically incompatible with what I believe on certainkey issues. Regardless of what party they belong to.

[ChipDog]

I like Sarah Palin very much too, but don't think she can win. Newt at this point is not my ideal candidate (Sarah isn't either), but for me, Newt is the best choice of those that are running. Romney is my least favorite, followed closely by Perry.

That was my feeble attempt at humor "get behind". IMHO, I think the main thing on most minds right now is who is the best to chisel away at Obama for the time being even if not down the line, and Newt fits that bill pretty with his quick thinking and fast-on-his-feet debating skills.

But for the record that picture of Sarah on her calendar with the smoking shells ejecting from her over-and-under shotgun is pretty dang sexy.

[TechAlum05]

Why is the Republican Party getting behind Newt?

There are two groups of people within the GOP: the Establishment people (Rockefeller Republicans, the moderates) and the Grass-Root Conservatives. The GOP Establishment, such as Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, is getting behind Mitt Romney. The Grass-Root Conservatives are against Mitt Romney as the nominee, but not united behind any particular candidate. Because of the divide between the two groups, most national polls from the beginning of the 2012 election cycle to now have shown Romney with 25-30% support and the non-Romney candidates with the rest of the vote.

Of the non-Romney candidates in the race, there are Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Jon Huntsman. The Grass-Root Conservatives do not have a candidate that can unite behind yet. Gov. Sarah Palin & Gov. Mike Huckabee both chose not to run for the nomination. Other candidates have surged when they entered the race and fallen back some afterwards (Bachmann, then Perry, then Cain, now Gingrich). Bachmann and Perry saw their support fall after their debate performances and campaign mistakes. Cain saw his support decline as the media went after his personal life. Huntsman is too much like Romney for the non-Romney people to support. Rick Santorum never had a shot since the day he launched his campaign. Ron Paul will get support from his libertarian base, but I'm sure the other conservatives will support him due to his foreign policy stances.

The GOP Establishment will continue to support Romney, so the Republican party is now uniting behind Newt Gingrich. Some of the non-Romney people started supporting Newt Gingrich after his great performances during the debates and partly due to process of elimination. The other non-Romney people are still supporting Ron Paul (mainly the libertarians), Bachmann, and Perry to lesser degrees. However, it remains to be seen who the GOP will ultimately pick as their nominee in 2012.

[Guisslapp]

It is really Romney versus non-Romney. Each of the other candidates are getting their 15 minutes as the non-Romney, but they all fizzle. The Evangelicals hate the idea of Romney - mostly because he is Mormon, but will say it is because of his liberal record. I think Romney has the best chance of beating Obamanation, but I will be voting third party again.

[PawDawg]

The Evangelicals hate the idea of Romney - mostly because he is Mormon, but will say it is because of his liberal record.

Not true with the folks I know. ANYBODY but BHO.

[Bigdog13]

Let's be clear though, the Democrats have and haven't had any decent candidates in quite some time as well. Obama is a terrible President in the mold of GWB. Winning doesn't make you a good candidate.

I see some good future GOP candidates right now but they are too young and inexperienced. They'll get there. Just not this cycle.

[Bigdog13]

It is really Romney versus non-Romney. Each of the other candidates are getting their 15 minutes as the non-Romney, but they all fizzle. The Evangelicals hate the idea of Romney - mostly because he is Mormon, but will say it is because of his liberal record. I think Romney has the best chance of beating Obamanation, but I will be voting third party again.

Don't know about that. I know a lot of Evangelicals who REALLY think Romney is too liberal.

[TechAlum05]

The Evangelicals hate the idea of Romney - mostly because he is Mormon, but will say it is because of his liberal record.

I'm not fond of Romney, but it's because of his liberal record and his history of shifting key positions and beliefs in order to get elected President, not because of his religion.

[hoppinmad]

Why is the republican party getting behind Newt?

Some of the reports I heard today were that the republican party is not supporting Newt. Most everyone in the country probably has a preference, plus those who could care less if a socialist gets reelected because it will teach the public a lesson I guess.

[Cal&Ken]

It is really Romney versus non-Romney. Each of the other candidates are getting their 15 minutes as the non-Romney, but they all fizzle. The Evangelicals hate the idea of Romney - mostly because he is Mormon, but will say it is because of his liberal record. I think Romney has the best chance of beating Obamanation, but I will be voting third party again.

Most people I know dislike that we would have obamacare only it would be called romneycare and equally as crappy under romney- and many other liberal agendas. If he is the choice I will vote for him, but I will not vote for him in the primary. I couldn't care less if he is a Mormon or not- I just wish he was the typical Mormon and was conservative, but he is not.

[JuBru]

Romney would NOT have pushed anything close to obamacare or Massachusetts' "romneycare". Don't spread that b.s. The nation didn't and doesn't want it, so Romney would not have even given it a whiff.