Digest for Friday, January 13, 2012 - Editions

Digest

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Foundation

"The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man." --James Madison

Government & Politics

Romney's Bain

Mitt Romney won Tuesday's New Hampshire primary easily, followed by Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman and the rest, but it wasn't what led the news cycle. Rather, the news centered on the debate's central theme, Romney's record at Bain Capital and the attacks of his rivals upon that record. Perhaps that's because Romney is ahead in South Carolina by a slim margin and way out in front in Florida, and his opponents feel they are running out of time to stop his Sunday afternoon drive to the nomination.

Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman, therefore, found a common theme: Romney's tenure at Bain Capital. The three attacked the financial firm for its method of investing in companies to turn them around, sometimes leading to downsizing, layoffs and, in some cases, even bankruptcy -- but that's part of venture capitalism. Bain's record was among the best in the business during Romney's tenure as CEO, but his opponents cast it as destructive and not real capitalism. Combined with Romney's comment that "I like being able to fire people" -- granted, most of his opponents cut out the rest, "who provide me services" -- he took it on the chin.

Gingrich called Bain's model "rich people figuring out clever legal ways to loot a company," while Perry called it "vulture capitalism." Huntsman chimed in, "What is clear is [Mr. Romney] likes firing people. I like creating jobs." Yet the issue is far more nuanced than the left-wing soundbites coming from Republicans.

Some think that Romney's opponents are doing him a favor. If indeed Romney is the GOP nominee -- and with just two small states checking in so far it's certainly too soon to declare it so -- he will undoubtedly face similar attacks from Barack Obama and his cadre, so the attacks now help him prepare. But that's just the problem, isn't it? Obama will almost certainly quote Gingrich, Perry and Huntsman assailing Romney and Bain, merely adding, "I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message."

To their small credit, Gingrich and Perry seem to realize this, if the latter only acknowledges that it could be the case. In December when Gingrich attacked Romney along the same lines, he later recanted. Of course he did it again anyway, but word is he's considering recanting all over again. Or not. Who knows? What we do know is that a Gingrich PAC has begun a full frontal assault against the King of Bain, a "predatory corporate raider."

Gingrich has at least one valid point: Romney has centered his candidacy not on his term as Massachusetts governor (for good reason!) but on his time at Bain and his business acumen. That makes it fair game for criticism, and there is certainly room for it.

Romney himself provided some fodder by trying to defuse the situation, at the same time telegraphing his punches against Obama. "In the general election I'll be pointing out that the president took the reins at General Motors and Chrysler -- closed factories, closed dealerships, laid off thousands and thousands of workers. He did it to try to save the business." Politically, that's very clever. After all, how can Obama criticize Romney for causing layoffs and closures in an effort to save businesses when Obama did the same thing in the auto industry? (Then again, Democrats never met a hypocritical charge they couldn't make.)

To be fair, Romney opposed the auto bailout at the time and isn't making the case for it now. But for those seeking the Best GOP Candidate, this illustrates that Romney either doesn't understand or doesn't believe that there is a fundamental issue at stake. In Bain's case, it was indeed free-market capitalism at work -- a sometimes difficult, perhaps hard-to-defend version of it, but capitalism nonetheless. Conversely, what Obama did with the automakers was top-down government control of industry and nothing remotely like capitalism -- in fact, it was more akin to fascism in the accurate definition of the word.

Bain's record is, on balance, one of creating jobs and wealth; its enormous successes with Domino's Pizza, Serta and Staples come to mind, along with the tens of thousands of jobs created. Obama's record is one of destroying jobs and redistributing wealth. If Romney is to be the nominee and win over conservative support, he will need to improve greatly his ability to communicate that message. Besides, a few pink slips in the government are in order.

What do you think of Republican attacks on Romney?

Correction: The above item originally stated that Bain consulted with the administration on the auto bailouts. However, Bain & Co. denies that it has any affiliation with Bain Consulting, which did the advising. Our story has been corrected.

Quote of the Week

"Bain Capital shouldn't be demonized. It may not even deserve to be criticized. But in laying out a way forward, conservatives might remember that Bain Capital isn't capitalism, that capitalism by itself isn't freedom, and that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in the Gospel of Wealth." --The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol

On Cross-Examination

"Wall Street has its share of miscreants, and they should be recognized as such when appropriate. But to abominate Mitt Romney for having been a success at the business of investing in struggling American companies, connecting entrepreneurs with capital and producers with markets, is foolish and destructive. Republicans ought to know better, and the fact that Gingrich et al. apparently do not is the most disturbing commentary on the state of the primary field so far." --National Review

News From the Swamp: Debt Increase Submitted

The Obama administration has officially requested an increase of $1.2 trillion in the debt ceiling. The increase was expected as part of last summer's debt-limit deal between Congress and the White House. According to the Treasury Department, the U.S. reached the $15.194 trillion debt limit on Jan. 4. The House is expected to vote next week, where many Republicans will oppose it. Still, even if both House and Senate reject it, the president can veto and raise it anyway. Never-ending debt increases -- same as it ever was.

From the Left: White House Staff and Fundraisers

White House Chief of Staff William Daley announced his resignation this week after a shaky year on the job. Daley, a lifelong member of the Chicago Democrat machine, replaced Rahm Emanuel, also an alumnus of the machine, last January so that the combative former chief of staff could run for mayor of the Windy City. The year that Daley spent in the position didn't live up to the expectations placed upon him by the Obama administration and the media, but he also didn't have the policy or advisory access to the president that other chiefs of staff have enjoyed. Obama more frequently turned to longtime aides and campaign staffers in the hyper-charged partisan atmosphere of the White House. Congressional Democrats reportedly often felt slighted by Daley, and his day-to-day role shrank significantly as time passed. He will remain on board until after Obama's State of the Union speech on Jan. 24. Jacob Lew, current budget director and longtime Washington insider, will then replace him.

Barack Obama may not even need a chief of staff since he will be doing nothing but campaigning for re-election between now and Nov. 6. His nonstop quest for a second term featured back-to-back fundraisers last Monday. One event was open to the media, and Obama bragged about how he brought about change by killing Osama bin Laden. Naturally, his remarks didn't include a tip of the hat to the hard intelligence work of his predecessor, who put him in position to give the order on bin Laden in the first place, or the outstanding work of the SEAL Team that did the job.

As for the fundraiser ticket price, 700 supporters were charged a minimum of $100 per ticket. The other event that evening pulled in $45,000 per head, but the White House refused to release the names of the 1 Percenters who attended either event. There was no public airing of the president's remarks from the big-ticket dinner since the press was barred from attending. The administration noted that because the president was not making formal remarks, there was no need to accommodate the media. Obama the open and accountable candidate railed against this sort of behavior when George W. Bush was president, but Obama seems to believe that he's above such demands.

Around the Nation: Texas Holder 'Em

The Supreme Court heard arguments this week on Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department challenge to Texas's congressional redistricting plan. The State of Texas added four new districts to its map after the 2010 Census, but majority Republicans maintained the 10 minority districts that currently exist. Thanks to an outdated provision in the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Texas is one of nine states that must pre-clear changes in its election law with either a federal court or the Justice Department to prevent racist election rules.

While the new map was under review by a federal court in Washington, Democrats there and in Austin conspired to run roughshod over the process by redrawing the map in their favor. Now political hack Holder is insisting that the new districts should be minority based to reflect the growth of the Hispanic population. He is under the assumption that swinging the districts toward minorities will give Democrats an advantage in a strong Republican state. This obvious partisan power grab of gerrymandering districts to reflect a particular racial outcome negates and makes a mockery of the very concept of racial integration that led to the Voting Rights Act in the first place.

This Week's 'Braying Jenny' Award

Remarking on last weekend's one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Tucson, DNC Chairwoman and Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz had this conciliatory message:

"We need to make sure that we tone things down, particularly in light of the Tucson tragedy from a year ago, where my very good friend, Gabby Giffords -- who is doing really well, by the way -- [was shot]. The discourse in America, the discourse in Congress in particular ... has really changed, I'll tell you. I hesitate to place blame, but I have noticed it take a very precipitous turn towards edginess and lack of civility with the growth of the Tea Party movement."

When Republicans took umbrage -- and rightly so against the party that perfects vitriolic rhetoric -- Wasserman Schultz Tweeted, "I'd NEVER politicize Tucson."

We'll give her one thing: She is remarkable consistent in spinning things exactly backwards.

Economy

Hope 'n' Change: The Medical ATM?

Barack Obama can be quite the Luddite when it comes to job creation. Remember when he pontificated, "If you were a bank teller or a phone operator or a travel agent, you saw many in your profession replaced by ATMs and the Internet"? More likely, they were replaced by workers who required a higher skill level, thus commanding a better wage and benefiting the economy.

Ironically, a provision of ObamaCare requires the conversion to all-electronic medical records by 2014, and in the process of procuring expensive systems that will meet the requirement, many doctors and hospitals are cutting back on other areas -- such as staffing. Two recent examples are the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which let go 115 workers and will leave 90 other positions vacant, and the Nassau University Medical Center and its associated sites that axed 175 jobs in New York.

Not only do these medical practices need to select a health-records software provider -- one of the largest companies is, not surprisingly, headed by a large Obama donor -- but they also fret about declining Medicare reimbursements that will affect the bottom line negatively. While the new e-record mandates come with a promise to streamline patient care, it's those people who actually do the work that a medical facility needs most to do its job. Fewer employees could mean worse outcomes for those unfortunate enough to need inpatient care.

In an era where the prospect of "death panels" and long waiting lines for care are deemed inevitable, this further intrusion of government into health care won't be popular, but it is without question costly for all of us.

Share your thoughts: How will ObamaCare affect jobs?

Regulatory Commissars: Restricting Uranium Mining and Other Nonsense

While the president gives lip service to economic growth, jobs, and energy independence, his administration just took another step backward in these areas. The Washington Post reports that on Monday Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a 20-year ban on uranium mining on more than a million acres of land near the Grand Canyon. Uranium indirectly supplies about 20 percent of America's electricity, and as much as 40 percent of the nation's known uranium deposits lie near the Canyon. Indeed, tapping into this rich natural resource could have created not only energy but also hundreds of jobs. Unfortunately, catering to environmental groups means more to this administration than jobs, growth, or energy independence. At least somewhere a tree is happy.

In other environmental news, The New York Times reports that motor fuel companies this year will pay the government approximately $6.8 million in penalties for not mixing cellulosic biofuel into their product, as mandated by law. The catch-22? Sufficient supply of said biofuel does not exist. The Times notes, "The law, aimed at reducing the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, its reliance on oil imported from hostile places and the export of dollars to pay for it, includes provisions to increase the efficiency of vehicles as well as incorporate renewable energy sources into gasoline and diesel." However, what the government mandated, it could not produce, and companies are left with the tab.

Income Redistribution: A Subsidy for the 1 Percent

Last week we informed you of the estimated $250,000 subsidy taxpayers were dropping into each of the roughly 7,700 Chevy Volts that were sold last year. Expand that to include handouts for battery makers and other necessary components, and Americans are on the hook for around $3 billion. On top of that, GM is considering scaling back production of the Volt to an "as-needed" inventory basis, meaning a longer time to recoup the "investment."

Who benefits from these massive subsidies? Obviously the union employees at GM do, but so do Volt buyers. According to industry figures, those who purchase the car and pick up the tax credit already do well already, with an average income of $170,000 a year. That's not quite the proverbial 1 percent but it's often comfortable. Those who buy more specialized electric models such as the Finnish-made Fisker Karma or Tesla Model S -- both of which also benefit from government largesse -- would, on average, be targets of Obama's desired tax hikes on the "wealthy."

Supply-side economics says those who have money should be able to spend it as they see fit, benefiting those on other rungs of the economic ladder through job creation and so forth. Then there are those who yammer about helping the "middle class" by making sure the "rich" pay their "fair share." The latter are now subsidizing the ones they demagogue. We suppose feeling green trumps all other considerations.

Spinning the TARP

The Government Accountability Office reported that the Obama administration shockingly deviated from its dogma of transparency and honesty when it cooked its press release books and withheld truthful information for numerous money-losing Troubled Asset Relief Program bailout recipients. Apparently, the goal was similar to that of Chip Diller in "Animal House" -- to make it seem amidst the chaos as if "all is well." In the real world, if anyone but Democrats falsely reported fiscal stability, it would be considered fraud, followed by endless investigations, breathless press coverage and lengthy prosecutions. In Obama World, since it's Democrats who were caught, the Leftmedia made nary a peep.

Because it was outed, the Treasury Department agreed henceforth to include loss estimates for all TARP programs in its press releases. Remember Democrats' solemn promise to run the most transparent government in history? So far the only thing transparent about these leftists is their obvious motive to paint themselves in a better light as we approach Election Day.

Security

Warfront With Jihadistan: Jihadi Plot Thwarted in Florida

This week, a 25-year-old man was arrested in Florida over an alleged plot to attack crowded areas around Tampa. The U.S. Department of Justice said Sami Osmakac, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in the former Yugoslavia, was arrested last Saturday after months of surveillance that began last September after authorities received a phone call from an unidentified informant, who said Osmakac came into his store wishing to buy an al-Qa'ida flag. Osmakac then asked the informant for help getting firearms and explosives. The informant then put Osmakac in touch with an undercover FBI agent. Osmakac was recorded saying he wanted to buy guns such as Uzis and AK-47s, high-capacity magazines, grenades, and that height of Islamist style, the explosives belt. Osmakac put $500 down on his items and further told the undercover agent that he wanted to strike busy locations, as well as detonate car bombs and destroy a bridge between Tampa and Pinellas County, Florida.

Osmakac's targets were, in his own words, the "kuffar," Arabic for infidels. "I want to do something terrifying," he said, further clarifying his Islamic motivation by adding, "We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?" It appears that both the informant and the FBI did exemplary work on this case, and we can all be thankful that another adherent of the Religion of Peace™ is now safely behind bars.

Iran: Marine Sentenced, Scientist Killed and U.S. Carriers Deployed

Things remain tense in the Persian Gulf, with Iran at the center of the vortex, as usual. On Tuesday, Iran sentenced to death Amir Hekmati, an Iranian-American citizen and former U.S. Marine, on the charge of spying for the CIA. Hekmati's case calls to mind the 2007 incarceration of then-67-year-old academic Haleh Esfandiari on similar trumped up charges, or the eight-year prison term handed to American journalist Roxana Saberi in 2009. Both women were ludicrously charged with espionage but eventually released. Hekmati's case is more complicated, following recent Hezbollah arrests of dozens of alleged U.S. spies in Lebanon. Nonetheless, we expect Iran will exploit his case for political gain to the fullest extent before releasing him. Executing Americans on fraudulent charges is a dangerous practice, as even the fanatics in Tehran must realize.

In other news, another Iranian nuclear scientist met his 72 virgins on Wednesday after being blown up in Tehran by assailants on a motorcycle. The method of attack, involving a magnetic bomb thrown onto the victim's car, is the same as previous fatal attacks on Iranian scientists. Given the recent string of assassinations, explosions at nuclear facilities, and the Stuxnet virus that temporarily disabled Iran's nuclear enrichment program, one might suspect that a foreign nation's covert operations branch is behind the attacks -- Israel's Mossad? It's not out of the question, however, that the Iranian dissident group Jundullah is behind the assassinations. Among numerous other attacks, Jundullah has exploded a bomb during a 2005 public appearance by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that killed four bodyguards. The group has also killed several senior Guard Corps leaders in recent years.

Lastly, no fewer than three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are or will shortly be in the CENTCOM area. USS Stennis is currently supporting Coalition operations in Afghanistan. USS Vinson has just entered the area from the Pacific, while USS Lincoln has just concluded a visit to Thailand before continuing toward the Arabian Gulf. The Stennis will soon depart for home -- after twice rescuing Iranian fishermen in distress in the last two weeks. The Vinson and Lincoln will remain in theater to keep a wary eye on Iran and to protect the interests of the free world.

What do you think of the goings on in Iran?

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Lt. Nick Vogt

For Veterans Day 2010, Mark Alexander profiled the next generation of Patriot veterans. One of those, then a cadet at West Point, is now the youngest honorary member of our National Advisory Committee. 2 Lt. Lee Miller contacted us this week with the story of a close friend and West Point classmate, Lt. Nick Vogt, who lost both legs to an IED explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan in November. Vogt should be dead, his doctors later told him, because he lost a significant amount of blood and his heart stopped several times during operations. He is alive not only because of the efforts of those surgeons, but also because of the treatment he received in the field from Spc. Thomas Underhill, a medic. Several soldiers on base gave blood to save his life, as well.

Vogt aspired to go to Army Medical school, but opted to serve as an Infantry Platoon Leader for two years before doing so. He said that when he treated wounded soldiers in the future, he wanted to know first-hand what they had been through. He has a long road of recovery ahead as he fights infections and seeks to regain motor skills. We offer him our thanks and our prayers.

Culture

Judicial Benchmarks: A Win for Religious Liberty

In October, we reported a case before the Supreme Court dealing with religious liberty. To recap, the case is that of Cheryl Perich, a "commissioned minister" and "called teacher" at Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Redford, Michigan. After being diagnosed with narcolepsy in 2004, she was granted leave by the school, which eventually had to hire another teacher and sought to "peacefully release" her. Perich, however, demanded to be reinstated and threatened legal action if the school failed to do so. She was then fired because taking such matters to secular court is against church teaching.

The Obama Justice Department backed her suit, but on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the First Amendment protects religious institutions from government meddling in such decisions as to who should serve as ministers, leaders and teachers. Courts have routinely held this to be true, but for some reason the Obama administration argued just the opposite. As we have argued often in these pages, the concept of separation of church and state is not meant to force religion from the public square. Rather it is to protect the church from the heavy hand of the state. In this case, it worked.

Village Academic Curriculum: DC Teachers' Pay Raise Far Outstrips Inflation

The Occupy Movement has been criticized for many things -- among them not having a cohesive message. Indeed, it has become a Petri dish for all things Left, including the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT has voiced its support for Occupy openly, applauding its work to ensure that teachers and students "are not forgotten."

The teachers of our nation's capital, however, don't seem to need any help in that regard. While teachers in other urban areas such as New York City were facing massive pay cuts and lay-offs, the Washington, DC, Teachers' Union was negotiating one of the most lucrative contracts in the field. Now, in addition to a large increase in base salary, DC teachers will receive merit-based bonuses that can boost their yearly income into the six-figure range. Under the Impact Plus program, educators who are rated "highly effective" will get an extra $2,400 to $25,000 for the year. Those who get that rating for two years in a row will be eligible for permanent salary increases, enabling them to earn more than colleagues with five years' experience and advanced degrees. We support merit-based pay, but true to the Left's tradition of hypocrisy, these teachers are showing their support for the "99 percent" even as they vote themselves enormous increases -- far above inflation or cost of living -- on the taxpayers' dime.

Meanwhile, DC's teachers showed up at a Nov. 17 Occupy rally with blankets and other provisions. Perhaps they should have brought an exterminator with them. According to the DC Health Department, there has been an "explosion" in the rat population at the city's two Occupy camps. The disease-carrying rodents are frolicking freely in the area, no doubt attracted to both the protesters' hay-stuffed bedding as well as the refuse they generate. Both sites also had kitchens, but the McPherson Square site closed theirs after health inspectors noted the unsanitary conditions.

The Director of the Health Department, Mohammed Akhter, was reluctant to disparage the group, but he did say that he would recommend that the federal government evict them, or do it himself, if their safety were at risk. Akhter, a native of Pakistan, also pointed out that the Occupy sites reminded him of the refugee camps he has seen in the Middle East and Africa, with one very important distinction: The Occupiers are creating and choosing to live in these conditions.

Which rats are more dangerous for public hygiene -- the rodents, or the occupiers?

And Last...

One moment Al Gore and the climate gorons are warning breathlessly about melting polar ice caps and drowning polar bears due to global warming due to your SUV. The next moment, it's the opposite. Either way, Gore laments, "Not a single question was asked about climate in any of the numerous, multitudinous debates that these candidates have had." He added that neglecting the issue means the future of civilization is "at risk." Substitute "my profits" for "civilization," and he's right.

As for the latest, Cambridge University researchers have concluded in a study that carbon dioxide emissions are actually helping stave off the next ice age. The BBC reports, "Researchers used data on the Earth's orbit and other things to find the historical warm interglacial period that looks most like the current one. In the journal Nature Geoscience, they write that the next Ice Age would begin within 1,500 years -- but emissions have been so high that it will not." Whew, that's a relief! We guess it's back to the attic with that extra mammoth pelt.

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!
Nate Jackson for The Patriot Post Editorial Team

Comments

Timothy Rice

the gop should throw newt gingrich out of the party. most verbage coming out of his mouth is anti-gop...he sounds like and obama aide pure poison!!!!! Newt from a strong gop voter "GO TO HELL" I wouldn't vote for you ever!!!!!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:22:57 AM

JWH in Texas

Come on fellas, let's discuss the REAL problems in the country AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO FIX THEM! This circular firing squad tells me nothing about what you would do if elected President.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:24:41 AM

W. Bland

Turn about is fair play.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:30:45 AM

No conservative can be "fair" to Romney. Romney = Obamacare. Unless his opponents realize this fact we are going to get stuck with another 4 years of Obama - either because Obama will win, or because Romney will win, and Romney is just Obama in an elephant suit.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:31:34 AM

Barry Payne

Why is Republican media not worried about Romney pumping out millions in attack ads on other Republicans? I would guess dollar wise he has spent more on negative attack ads than all the others combined, and it worked.

There is not enough money in Wall St to convince a majority of Americans that Romney would be good for America. But they do have enough money to smear anyone who gets higher in the polls than Romney.

Why we tolerate the RNC and DNC running America with their track record is beyond me.

Barry Payne, Titular Despot Emeritus

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:32:07 AM

J-P. A. MALDONADO

Romney is just another revolting RINO, but I am prepared to hold my nose, suppress my gag reflex, and vote for him. This will give us a four-year period without a Marxist regime, during which we can search for a proper leader. Retired Gen Petraeus and former UN Ambassador John Bolton come to mind.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:39:30 AM

Robert A. Hall

I’ve started to lean towards Newt two or tree times in this election cycle, only to have him do something that completely turns me off. I guess it’s not all bad that by the time I get to vote in late March, it should be over. These attacks on Bain have pushed me towards Romney—I didn’t see that coming.

Robert A. Hall

Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic

All royalties go to help wounded veterans

For a free PDF of my book, write tartanmarine(at)gmail.com

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:39:59 AM

Marion

I really think the other GOP candidates need to tone down their rhetoric. It is not playing well with most Americans and I think is working against them. Taking things out of context and blowing things up out of proportion is a lot of what I don't like about politics any more. What ever happened to common sense?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:40:45 AM

H. D. Schmidt

This argument about Capitalism by the Republican aspirants to be Commanders in Chief, is the best proof yet that the USA is and has never in reality accepted nor practiced true Capitalism as per the US Constitution plus all the additional help the Founding Fathers left for all future generations to follow. Yes, the shameful argument is whether Capitalism or Socialism/Communism, right?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:41:13 AM

l hay

Turns out that the VA already has a very efficient records system that addresses all of the requirements. I guess the Obama team could dismiss it and go about creating jobs around a new system.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:42:02 AM

Donald

Newt and Perry are disgusting. It's like a Mother eating her children. Revenge is not sweet and it shows the character of the person that hopefully will not lead this Nation.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:43:19 AM

Carol Fugit

I cringe each time ammo is provided for Obama to use in the general election. Romney isn't my choice (Cain was before the assault on his character), but Romney is my fall-back position. I don't think anyone else has a chance to beat Obama and NOW, it looks like the Obama perpetual-campaign and big money are going to steamroll anyone. Hopefully, I am wrong.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:43:38 AM

Kristin

I removed myself from Gingrich and Perry's mailing lists when this started -- the latter with great sadness, since I consider Perry the truest conservative in the field -- because to my mind it shows complete hypocrisy and lack of adherence to principle.

That's what got us where we are now. If they won't stick to principle in this situation, what makes us think they are firmly enough behind First Principles -- or any principle -- to deserve our vote?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:43:39 AM

Daylo

I believe that the Republican's attacks on Romney are correct.

I've heard "Staples" as a crowning achievment until actually, I cannot hardly stand it any longer. Bain bought out Office Depot. Staples was started. For a very good reason. Staples and Office Depot were set to merge. Making it an altogether huge -- almost monopoly office product store. The Federal Trade Commission wouldn't allow it for fear it would unfairly raise prices. The Staples everyone is touting here has created a lot of OVERSEAS jobs.

I believe further that Bain Capital has not created the jobs in America that it claims to have created.

I have noticed consistently that the media, including and especially FOX NEWS channel has come to the all out defense of Romney.

Yet, Romney drew first blood when he played some pretty devastating and lying ads in voting country and brought down Newt's lead. Funny, no one came to the aid of Newt. In fact, a smirking Romney said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" and claiming no knowledge of his SUPERPAC's ads. Please. The American people don't buy that. Now poor little rich kid Romney is crying foul and his surrogates in the media have come to his defense. Why does the media want Romney in the presidency so badly? I have to ask...is it because a president Romney would be a kinder and gentler person to the press than say Newt?

Newt was supposed to tuck his tail between his legs and squirm away? Maybe McCain would have done that, but not Newt.

Now, all anyone hears on the news is that Newt is angry and out for revenge. Couldn't it be a lot more simpler than that? Couldn't it be that Newt wants to actually win? He wants to defend himself. Never seen anyone who wants to win before?

I find Romney to be every bit the fake as I first believed him to be and I don't trust him.

Why won't he release his investments and tax records? Does he have investments in pharmaceutical companies that are on the ready to reap bucket loads of money under Medicare?

What about the taxpayer funded abortions in Massachusetts? I don't want taxpayer money being used to pay for this practice. What kind of REAL Mormon signs this into effect? Is he a MIMO? Mormon in name only, just as he is a RINO?

I wish he were a better mormon, maybe he would have gotten my vote. But I see no evidence of a righteous man here.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:44:53 AM

Will LeRoy

The small minded conduct of the current crop of candidates offers no hope for the future. We need a man with a Vision who can articulate it and lead a unified group of American towards it. The Man is the message. In this case, we have no Man I will support. Is the process so corrupted that everyone has lost the senesce of where we came from and where we need to go in the future? Newt writes about George Washington, but does not live it. We need a 1776 Man or Woman to lead us. I pray God makes one such individual available.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:45:10 AM

Bobby

Unjustified. All one has to do is have a basic undersatnding of economics and business to realize Bain is an example of how capitalism works.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:45:13 AM

JJStryder

I believe Romneys ability to defend venture capitalist methods and the reasoning behind them will help him, if he becomes president, to defend the attacks that will come when the inevitable downsizing of government begins. I can already hear the chorus of scorched cats when that debate begins.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:45:31 AM

Bill

I'm fed up with all the Republicans in this primary. The way they are destroying each other will assure Obama's reelection. I've stopped listening and I still don't know who I'll vote for in my state's primary. Where is Mike Huckabee when we need him the most?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:01 AM

JJStryder

P.S. Compairing Bain capitals' methods to Obamas take over of GM was dumb.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:21 AM

Rey Ruesch

Is there a single Rupublican candidate who has NOT proposed the ELIMINATION of vast unconstitutional federal agencies (in the name of improving Federal Government efficiency)? I guess I don't see the difference between THAT and what Bain did at times.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:21 AM

John Switow

I think the attacks are well aimed and appropriate, if unprecedented. Romney can be sure that he will see the dirtiest of attacks from the Obama administration. I am not crazy about Romney either, but he is far better (imho) than Obama. I will certainly vote for him if he wins the nomination, but likely will not vote for him in the primary.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:25 AM

Lynn Perkes

While the attacks against Romney are made by opponents in an effort to win the Republican nomination they reflect the hypocritical nature of those candidates who claim allegiance to the free enterprise capital system, yet provide Obama with talking points that will undoubtedly be used against Romney if he is Republican ominee. It is just this sort of hypocritical approach that put Obama in the White House in that the Evangeliticals of the South with Huckabee leading the charge attacked Romeny's religion and sought to ensure the nomination of someone who could not beat Obama, that being either Huckabee or McCain. What remains to be seen is if these attacks against what we Republicans hold dear, namely the free enterp;rise system, will ultimately be used effectively against Romney should be win the Republican nomination. In other words, will our own Republicans be responsible for a second term for the president who has done so much damage to this country by trampling on the Constitution simply because of their own selfishness. Or, if and when it becomes clear who must inevitabely win the nomination do as Romney did four years ago when he through his support to the inevitable nominee, John McCain. Only time will tell, ashistory will also tell

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:58 AM

Jan

It is a wrong thing for any Republican to attack another. Shows a smallness of mind. They all should be attacking Omama and those in congress who have gotten us in this mess.

They should all be coming forth with solutions.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:49:19 AM

Carol Bee

These dishonest attacks on Romney and his association with Bain Capitol, have caused me to lose all respect for Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. They sound more like Obama than conservative Republicans. They are so desperate to win, they are willing to kill everyone and everything in their way. It was very difficult for many conservatives and Republicans to vote for McCain in 2008, if one of these should be our nominee, it will be extremely difficult. For Newt to claim he is the only true conservative,and then to deliberately lie and agree to promote these vicious lies, is disgusting. He acts like a spoiled four-year-old brat. Besides all of that, the public is sick to death of this type of campaigning. We want to know what you will do to defeat Obama and restore fiscal sanity and our God given freedoms that this administration is destroying faster than an AR15.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:49:44 AM

Harry

Newt and Perry are acting like Democrats by falsifying accounts of Romney which have been shown to be false by several written accounts. Much of what has been said has taken place after Romney left and He remained only as an investor in Bain.

I hate liars,whether they are in the WH or straining to get there. What makes them different than the Dummycraps already in place. No thanks! I've had enough or lies couched as politics. I hope that this is not another year to elect the lesser of two evils. And I'm not clear which one it is at this point.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:50:05 AM

Jim Dearborn

Stupid! Just keep shreding the Republican Party, and give Obammy a second term. STUPID!!!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:50:11 AM

roger dexter

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. When Newt said he was not going to be negative he caught my attention. When Romney attacked Newt he lost my vote and gained one for Newt. Now Newt has lost my vote for his attacks. Ron Paul is all about attack and lies at that. Who is left? People I don't know.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:53:34 AM

Fred

Mitt Romney's tenure at Bain is perhaps what this government needs most. There is so much waste in government, we need a hatchet man.

Go Mitt!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:55:25 AM

Emil

I recently went to see my urologist for my annual checkup. They are switching their records to electronic records. I ask how much the cost was to their small clinic. His answer was 1.5 million dollars. This clinic has 8 doctors. It is not difficult to figure what the cost will be for the large university hospitals and clinics. The cost will probably be passed on to us the patients. Mr.Obama has never held a real job which makes me believe his new health care comes from not knowing anything about real work.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:56:31 AM

GEORGE W. VENTI, JR.

The attacks are absolutely stupid and dividing. There is a difference -- or should be -- between an attack and simply revealing a negative.

They are acting like kindergartners to the detriment of the goal to get rid of BO!!!!

STUPID AND SELFISH!!

KIND REGARDS,

GWV

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:56:32 AM

Bill

The hypocrites that attack Newt seem to forget that is was Romney who attacked or orchestrated the attacks on Bachman, Perry, Cain and Gingrich. Romney and his record is as phony as a three dollar bill. He was a failed governor who instituted obamacare in Massachuesetts before there was a obama care.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:57:24 AM

Elmer - in Wisc.

I am seeing the same theme in these responses, and that is, if the Republican party doesn’t stop this stupid mud-slinging between themselves, they will end up giving the election away. Wake up people, remember UNITED WE STAND , divided we watch Obama spend another four years in office.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:57:32 AM

Cheryl T. Barney

I think that they show desperation and even worse that they care less for the 'saving of this nation' than they do for their own personal political rise.

Newt has no command on moral behavior. Perry doesn't have the ability and Huntsman is the true RINO.

Unfortunately nothing is being said about Mitt's saving of the Olympics which were riddle with corruption and going down the tubes when he stepped in and not only re-organized but ended up with a sizable profit which is now subsidizing many of the

former event sites. I trust Romney to make the right decisions for what needs to be done.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:57:39 AM

Donald

The whole situation emphasizes the lack of knowledge in our leaders and population how capitalism really works. This lack of knowledge has led us down the road to socialism and facism which really don't work as demonstrated by the European Model failures currently being felt. It's time our politicians take a few courses in Economics and Free Market operations! Right now it appears that Obama is being allowed to define Capitalism and that is definitely not good for our future!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:58:45 AM

don andrews

I think that Romney's opponents shouldn;t be trying to downgrade the front runner, & concentrate more on Obama's faults..But, I guess that's politics.. Don

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:59:12 AM

Marshel

The attacks on Romney due to his work with Bain Capital really have no basis in my opinion. The real attack on Romney is that he is certainly not a conservative and not trustworthy to be fiscally and socially conservative as President. This however is the issue with most all of the Republican candidates. The only candidate that can be considered a conservative both fiscally and socially is Ron Paul.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:59:42 AM

Brenda

I am offended by the GOP candidates' assaults on Mitt Romney. He may not have been my first choice as the GOP front-runner, but the others are making fools of themselves by behaving like pouty, childish losers, lashing out at someone who made beat them. Such behavior only makes the others seem like very small people, who shouldn't even be in the running for President of the United States! We already have a childish, pouty President, who needs another?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:59:44 AM

Harry

Occupiers are the dangerous ones.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:59:46 AM

TJS

The attacks on Bain and Romney are disgusting. I no longer support Newt for president. I'm afraid Newt has exposed a temper and nastiness which is disqualifying.

Bain is/was just fine. Romney is not the most conservative, but he is the most electable, IMHO.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:01:07 PM

En10dre

I think King Newt is an angry old man who is under-funded and aloof. He is being lead around by the nose by his lovely third wife who has HER eye on the prize. You seldom see him in photos that Calista and her expensive jewels are not also on display. If BO gets re-elected he can thank Newt. We cannot afford Newt, Calista or Michelle or BO.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:01:22 PM

One VA Patriot

The Meaning of Boltin' John Bolton

I read the report of John Bolton's endorsement of Mitt Romney and experienced some trepidation. I have long admired Mr. Bolton for his acumen and willingness to do the hard work of statehood. But his decision to back Romney felt like a sucker-punch in the belly.

Mitt Romney is the least conservative of the republican nominees, with the possible exception of John Huntsman. After much consideration I could only understand Bolton's decision as one of pragmatism.

However, Mr. Bolton should be careful in his employment of Bill Buckley's pragmatic conservatism, it was a different day with different forces arrayed against the bastion of liberty when WFB formulated his pragmatic approach to politiking. In Buckley's day the battle was between ideas on how to govern. Whereas today we face a battle involving the very survival of government itself; at least government "of the people, by the people and for the people." Now, with socialist ideas in their ascendency, we can no longer afford to play the parlor games of big government vs. limited government, that battle has been won by socialism and its capable facilitator: education. It was won in a battle that has been waged in relative obscurity for the past seventy-five years, or at least since John Dewey. And socialists want us to keep arguing big v. limited as a distractant from the direction socialists are taking this country.

Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran v. Israel, the Straits of Hormuz, the Arab Spring, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan, the European Union, etc. should all be raising red flags, yet Obama does nothing to protect our interests in these parts of the world. In fact, he is set on removing the U.S. presence from them.

Thus, the question becomes not who is more electable, but which candidate has the courage to lead this country back from the abyss!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:01:53 PM

Larry Buller

While I am not a Romney super fan, the quotes taken out of context, and the attacks on capitalism at work have forever soured me on Gingrich and Huntsman. Sheesh! I thought they knew better! This utter nonsense is not shooting ourselves in the foot, it is shooting ourselves in the head!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:01:53 PM

shirley carroll

I think the attacks by the other Republicans against Romney are disgusting and uncalled for. Republicans should band together and do all they can to defeat Obama, not help him. It is clear that Romney will win the Republican nomination and the other idiot Republicans running against him should be ashamed for attacking him.

Romney is not perfect but he has the best chance to beat Obama.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:02:25 PM

Elmer - in Wisc.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:02:40 PM

Derek Bernard

Romney has a poor record as Governor of Massachusetts, a terrible record as a flip-flopper and a consistent record of ignoring and undermining the Second Amendment. By contrast his record at Bain Capital is very good.

The fact that Gingrich, Perry and Huntsman all attack his record at Bain is a ghastly illustration of the poor quality of most of the GOP contenders.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:02:53 PM

jacy

I will not vote for Romney - not particulary based on Bain Capital but his experience as a one term governor wherein he has blamed (by his own words) all liberal decisions and choices on his Democrat legislature. The fact that he didn't even attempt to appoint conservative judges; that he has flip flopped, (obviously for political advantage) on major issues is to me, great cause for concern. I wonder if he would flip flop as president when he is faced with controversy. I don't think Romney has the experience in government that Newt, Santorum or Perry have. I don't trust Romney - he has been campaigning for years. Newt may have baggage but he is the most qualified at this time for president.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:03:56 PM

JJStrder

.Debt limit raise request by Obama....." Still, even if both House and Senate reject it, the president can veto and raise it anyway."

So we live in a dictatorship then? How did this happen? I thought the house held the purse strings. Obama is leading us to ruin and all we can do is sit back and watch? We need to re-read the Declaration. Especially the part after "We hold these truths to be self evident.....

I believe we have causes that impel.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:04:31 PM

Jiggs

I think these negative attacks are stupid, and counter productive. Every single one of these clowns has a skeleton of some magnitude in his closet. This kind of bashing of each other will not defeat Obama, and that's really the bottom line, isn't it? We are trying to pick a candidate to defeat Barack Obama in the general election. So far I see nothing substantive to that effect. We all want the best candidate to complete this task, but unfortunately, the best man has not come forward. I get the feeling that if I put all of these birds in a sack, shook the bag well, and emptied it, nothing exciting would come out. To me, they are a "Ho Hum" crowd.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:04:56 PM

Charlie Brewer

Romney started the mud slinging when Newt gained the lead. He should have expected it to come back at him,after all no one had said even one bad thing about him untill his PAC started the mud slinging.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:05:06 PM

Gerry

This is classic Newt. Speak and act before you think. This "knee jerk" response is exactly why many of us have concerns about his ability to lead. This is exactly the kind of turmoil that follows him where ever he goes and a reason to consider other alternaives.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:06:54 PM

Helen Lippert

The Republicans are tripping over themselves to hand to election to Obama on a silver platter. What is WRONG with them? When will Republicans learn?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:07:03 PM

Bill Byford

I think it is absolutely pathetic the way the other Republican's are bashing Bain Capital and Mitt Romney's association with them. They are plenty of good stories about Bain Capital out there. If they want to bash him go ask about Romneycare or other things such as raising taxes in his state. This sounds like something the Democrats would use and I'm sure will try very, very hard in the future. This whole thing is turning my stomach to the so called "conservative" Republicans. Go after OBAMA, not each other.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:07:09 PM

Bob

As a previous supporter of Gingrich, I am very disappointed that he is attacking Romney and giving the Democrats fodder for their own criticisms, rather than expanding on his own platform and ideas. I am a resident of South Carolina and am not ready to support Romney, but am disappointed by the rest of the field since all are either attacking Romney or each other. Disgusting!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:07:39 PM

Joanne

It's reprehensible the way some Republicans are distorting the Bain issue. Remember Reagan's advice not to tear down your fellow Reepublicans! It really makes the attackers look pitiful...they are grasping at straws as they go down in flames. The WSJ had an excellant editorial that thoroughly explained what Bain Capital was and how those types of operations work.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:09:28 PM

Joe Bidenmytime

It is these kind of antics that make me glad I am no longer a Republican. Republicans never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I am happier as an independent and identify myself as a small "l' libertarian. If the Republicans want my vote and financial support, they had better show themselves to be more serious than the tin-pan tyrant in the Oval Office.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:09:44 PM

W WA

I'm not a Romney fan but I question the attacks being made by his opponents regarding Bain.

I'm a Constutional conservative and true believer in minimal government. Therefore, I believe there is plenty else for which Romney can be criticized for posing as a true conservative.

Romney has a great record in business but his record as Governor is rather dismal. That is where he should be attacked and rightly so.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:10:23 PM

Bill Richards

Gingrich is a sour old apple desperate for attention while Perry and Huntsman are just desperate.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:10:36 PM

American Patriot

Waht do I think? I verbalized them in my American Thinker post this morning:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/01/gop_field_devours_its_own.html

I think it is disgusting and a net loser for the party and the candidates.

We are trying hard to hand the presidency back to the charlatan for four more years (which in my estimation would be the final nail in the coffin of America)

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:10:40 PM

Stan Kirkwood

When Newt decided to focus on destroying Romney he lost focus on why he would be the best president. And that was not the only thing he lost - my support.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:11:12 PM

Bob H.

The GOP candidates had better get their act together and stop denigrating each other. It should be about defeating Obama and his socialist destruction of America. Time is running out and the GOP needs to come together or we risk another 4 years of Marxist Obama.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:13:00 PM

Randy Williams

An article in CFO December issue said "CFOs are to capitalism as bus drivers are to buses".

"Few CFOs have the responsibility to move not just a select few on the bus of capitalism safely and efficiently, but to move everyone on the bus safely and efficiently to their destination.Moving a few while throwing the rest under the bus is bad for capitalism and for our republic, as we are now discovering".

There are three success stories mentioned in Romney"s Bain, Dominos Pizza, Serta and Staples.

How many companies went out of business?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:13:06 PM

Attacks on Romney's Capitalist ventures are a very stupid thing to criticize especially when being done by fellow Republicans. Of course, other than Ron Paul, the other candidates are just that, stupid.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:13:24 PM

DerShyGuy

I have been hired, and I have been fired. I have hired other people, and I have fired other people. Such is life in the real world. Newt's attacks are purely political and shows he has put his getting elected above being a man of common sense and honor.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:13:50 PM

don ballew

Gingrich really sucks here. He's taken stuff and twisted it until it doesn't resemble the truth. Newt needs to go home. He's helped Obama enough. DAB

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:13:54 PM

Daylo

The thing here that people seem to get mixed up and I believe this "mix up" has been instigated by the media itself to muddy the already muddy waters is that no one, and I mean NO ONE is AGAINST capitalism. They are AGAINST the "VULTURE CAPITLISM" as evidenced by Bain Capital.

The thing, is no one wants to separate the two, especially not Romney's camp. They want you to believe that if you don't like "vulture capitlasm" you're just simply against all kinds of capitalism. Not true, but it sure muddies the water enough to bring more into Romney's camp.

All of you out there who are just so anti-negative ads, please consider that the first negative ad was produced by Romney, who drew first blood.

Perhaps you just don't remember that because Romney's ad only ran in voter country in Iowa, or maybe it is because no one in the media became all holier-than-thou when Romney's ads hit Gingrich hard. That only happened when Gingrich tried to defend himself. You must ask yourself why the media didn't step up to defent Gingrich against Romney's ad, but they let Gingrich have it when he defended himself. There has to be a reason, people. Maybe it will come to you.

If you wanted a candidate who would just take it and tuck his tail between his legs, then you didn't want someone who can fight and defeat Obama in the first place. When attacked, would YOU turn the other cheek or would YOU come out swinging too?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:14:22 PM

Dave D

I thought They were smarter that that! Me thinks there are only two left in this race that is worth a darn now~~~

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:15:20 PM

Concerned Conservative

Romney is to blame for this whole negative campaign strategy. Gingrich warned at the outset, to not negatively attack each other, but to expose the incompetancy and outright offenses against our Constitution coming from the oval office for three years and counting. Romney, who was told not to go there has defiantly opened Pandora's box setting off this chain of events, which Americans loathe. The Democrats must be singing "Happy Days are Here Again" while watching Republicans self destruct, and it's all because of Romney.

Does anyone in their right mind expect Gingrich and the others to roll over and take what Romney has done? Romney is a status quo Republican, and will perpetuate same. His past record shows this. We need a true Conservative leader with a Republican majority in the House and Senate in order to reverse the treacherous direction in which we are headed.

Gingrich is only retaliating against the path that Romney has chosen to take this contest to.

The lame stream media wants the people to believe the contest is over with Romney the winner. Nothing could be further from truth.

Committed Delegates to date:

Romney 12

Paul 10

Santorum 7

Gingrich 2

Perry 2

Huntsman 2

As you can see, this contest is far from finished, and may even become a battle at the Republican Convention Aug. 27-30 in Tampa FL.

Again, the real blame goes to Romney for choosing this gutter politics strategy, which the American people are tired of.The people want to hear how each candidate will defeat the community organizer we now have in the oval office, not themselves.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:16:05 PM

Jack Tirrell

These attacks sadden me. I know negative attack ads work, but at what cost to the Republican party. I believe the attacks symbolize what is wrong with the Republican party. It reminds me of the expression--Well they eat their young don't they? (Or something to that effect. I was particularly concerned with Newt's attacks when he has been calling for civility between the candidates and asking that the candidates not attack one another. That is the worst flip flop a candidate can have.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:16:26 PM

Suni

Anyone who thinks Romney is a good candidate should watch this video on Mr. Romney. I think if we want to re-elect the current POTUS then by all means vote for Romney, that will be one sure way to get him re-elected.

http://www.webcasts.com/kingofbain/

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:17:53 PM

Pedersen

Very disapointed with the Republicans. Everyone could all place their expertise on the table and get behind the front runner and show the "other side" that they are all in it together to elect one with the help of all of them to "whip" Obama. Obama/Barry needs to be FIRED.....if someone was doing this to a business you owned ...you would certainly FIRE THEM....!

We are tired of Obama/Barry and all his illegal friends and relatives and Czars and those who DO NOT pay their taxes.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:18:38 PM

Lloyd Thompson

Ronald Reagan would be appalled at the constant violation of his 11th Commandment in this campaign. A higher power must be similarly sickened by the continued breach of His 9th Commandment as expressed in these attacks. For Gingrich, Perry and others to demonize Romney for his successful business experience reveals a desperation that is impairing both their judgment, vision, and integrity. Jon Huntsman is right when he says that we need to rebuild trust in our leaders and institutions of power. How in the world is this going to happen when two leading presidential candidates simply lie and distort an opponents record?

The truth is that Romney was successful because Bain was and is in the business of building businesses. Gingrich and Perry should realize that the twisted characterizations they are spewing of Romney and Bain help Obama. Wake up!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:18:40 PM

Mike H

I believe the infighting and the pettiness within the Republican Party is the quickest way to lose the election and guarantee Obama a second term.

Think about the future of our country and the mess we are handing our grandchildren. Give away personal ambitions and back the best candidate for the good of all.

JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what can you do for your country". And folks he was a Democrat! As a young Democrat I served JFK coffee at a college political meeting and I can tell you that the Democrat Party deserted me I didn't leave the party.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:19:10 PM

Donlee

This is a free-for-all and underscores why Ron Paul should absolutely be the GOP candidate. Notice how his campaign is NOT divisive, but promotes the constitution and less government/govt spending and strong money. These are values we can come together on. The US does not belong all over the world throwing dollars at other countries and their corrupt officials.

These other guys running are just part of the same-old.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:20:49 PM

Fritzie

I am sitting here in Columbia, SC, just waiting to vote on the 21st and will be glad to see the candidates go. I am not happy with any of them. Romney appeared, then disappeared to Florida. Don't even know if he will be back. Can't get a response at his campaign office. Meanwhile the others are acting in a manner that makes me wonder if they have any sense.....giving BHO all the ammo he will need, for free.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:20:56 PM

Barbara

It is revealing and disappointing when Republican candidates criticize the fact that capitalism requires house cleaning when things do not run efficiently. These candidates give the impression that they don't get capitalism and running a corporation. I don't know whether to interpret these attacks as liberalism or ignorance, but in either case, I'm disappointed.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:23:34 PM

Karen

Romney did NOT engage in vulture capitalism. How dare candidates come up with this distorted terminology and attack. They are simply attacking the free market. The ads against Newt were true. Newt is just a vindictive man who can't stand up for his checkered past, and in not getting away with the the image he wanted to portray, lashed out in hateful fashion towards Mitt. Read the following for information about Romney and Bain:

http://www.nationalreview.com/exchequer/287927/no-bain-did-not-get-bailout

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:23:57 PM

W WA

Why all the hoopla about Gingrich "unfairly" attacking Romney?

Romney forced Gingrich to do it - possibly costing Newt 1st or 2nd place in IA - with his disengenuous attacks.

The problem is what wins and loses elections is not facts, it's perception.

Obama is a shining example of that.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:24:33 PM

Ed Watson

ALL the candidates should focus on their record, their skills, etc. and NOT on basing the other guy. Does shooting yourself in the foot strike a bell?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:24:54 PM

Thomas Black

I think the attacks are disgusting. If Gingrich's so-called "conservatism" is this shallow and uninformed, he should be running as a Democrat. As for the others, it's about what I would expect. Huntsman, though, shoks me. He should know better.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:25:01 PM

BlueJJ

The candidates better realize soon who the enemy is and it's not their own party. My favorite had been Gingrich up to now, but his whining is not presidential, nor are the others' who casting that stone on Romney.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:25:50 PM

Paul

obamacare will in the end destroy many job in the health care field. How many people will be put to DEATH by this bill no one really knows but it will be up in the millions that's for sure. Need a heart transplant not to worry there's a death bed for that. need a major surgery to repair some damage because of a drunk driver not to worry there's a death bed for that too.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:27:44 PM

jim johnson

In a word disingenuous.

A company is the sum of its parts. If some parts are not functioning or do not fit they are removed to make way for those that do. All managers must make the hard decisions about personnel or a higher power, eventually, will. The current quibling about management decisions in the political arena is a conter productive.

"Gee, General Eisenhower, you sure got a lot of fine young men killed on D-day; and your are running for President?" Firing folks was not such a big thing back then and should not be today.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:30:08 PM

Chris S

Liberals think (or should I say "feel") that businesses should exist to "create jobs", while the rest of us realize they exist to make a profit for the owners/shareholders. Period. Creating jobs is a benefit of the existence of a business, NOT the reason for it to be. When a company is poorly run, grossly overstaffed, and drowning in employee pensions run amok (like, for example, GM) it needs to be restructured in order to save it. Sadly, this can mean layoffs. That's just life. It's bad enough listening to liberals drivel on about "people over profits", but it's inexcusable for any Republican to go along the same lines in order to score a few political points. If these Republicans, who each claim to want to save our country, don't stop giving Obama and his minions talking points, we'll be stuck with him for another four years. And I don't think we can last another four years with Obama at the wheel.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:30:49 PM

Nancy McFarland

I've been a registered republican all of my life and have voted Republican in the Presidential elections since 1974. Seen interest rates at 18% under Jimmy Carter and Vietnam war escalation under Lyndon Johnson. Everyone talks about crap that really doesn't matter in the scheme of things and where we find ourselves as Americans today. I could care less what any of these politicians "SAY" because it means nothing!! I want to know how they've voted in the past, and what they've stood for! Mitt Romney is for open borders, Obamacare Ken doll!! Newt...we know all about him!! Been there done that!! One previous comment said we need a Statesman!! A Constitutionalist!! Well....we have one running and that's Ron Paul! But people have become so blind to true freedom and what the Constitution says that you don't know a Statesman when he's standing right in front of you!! I'm so disappointed in the "Conservatives" (I use that term lightly) in this Country that I'm sick!!! If you look at Ron Paul's voting record and what he believes, he is the Thomas Jefferson of our time!! But humans have never recognized those sent to save us...now have we??? Vote for your Rinos as I've been guilty of in the past. But this time around, this Conservative Republican is voting for the ONLY man that can and will turn this Country around and That's Ron Paul!!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:31:45 PM

Larry D Greene

Gingrich, Perry and Huntsman are desperate and these are their Hail Mary passes. Sorry, no one is in the end zone.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:31:53 PM

Dustin

Romney's Bain & Co. is not related to the Bain that advised the Obama administration on the bailout.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:32:39 PM

Richard Ryan

The Republican attacks on Romney are despicable. If you don`t have a successful enough record of your own to run on, don`t attack another Republican. Just get out of the race. I am not a fan of Romney, but compared to Obama, he`s a giant.

Richard Ryan

Lamar,Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:35:34 PM

Daylo

@ Randy Williams:

Agreed, but there are three success stories mentioned in Romney"s Bain, Dominos Pizza, Serta and Staples.

Taking a closer look at even just those three ...Domonios has gotten a $12 million dollar bailout by our goverment.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (part of Bain Corporation) bought out Serta -

This is a headline from February 25, 2009

Serta owner to buy Simmons in $760 mln deal

Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:59pm EDT

* Simmons and Serta combined beat out Sealy

* Simmons will file for bankruptcy

By Caroline Humer

NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Mattress makers Simmons and Serta are planning to dethrone competitor Sealy as the world's largest mattress company in a $760 million deal that includes Simmons filing for bankruptcy.

Simmons Co said on Friday that it has put together a restructuring plan to be sold to private-equity firm Ares Management LLC and a unit of the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan, which owns competitor Serta.

*******************************

Then there is the much lauded Staples. Bain Capital bought out Office Depot. They started Staples. They tried to merge the two to become the biggest office supply store in the U.S., but the Federal Trade Commission would not let them citing unfair pricing if the two merged. Monopoly. We are playing Monoply with Romney as the owner of Park Place and Boardwalk. He is everything the video says he is.

***********************

You my friend, the voter are playing right into the hands of this monster corporation takeover and chopping shop. They're are more companies involved than JUST Bain Capital. That's the maze you are being led down to divert you from the real deal.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:36:51 PM

Shawni

Mitt Romney and others who have had similar experience with venture capital are a significant part of what makes this country great; they're taking a risk to help new businesses grow and thrive. They put it all on the line because they believe in the potential of a product or company presented by a given entrepreneur, making his case for financing. Some win, some lose, but that is what capitalism is all about, it’s the catalyst for which we grow our economy. Demonizing Romney and others like him is antithetical to Republican Party principles. In a sense, Gingrich and Perry are doing Romney a favor by taking some of the steam out of the Democrat’s tires for the general election. But, if you think about it, it really disqualifies them from being true Republicans for putting Governor Romney down for a line of work that, for the most part, has spurred economic growth in the United States.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:36:52 PM

Warren Lovely

I will never support a canidate that breaks Reagan's 11th Commandment. A truthful, positive response will win the day. This approach worked well for our 40th President...

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:37:09 PM

Wesley Hunter

Destructive; could be a real negative to our chances of beating Obama in Novenber

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:38:42 PM

The Texas Cooke

About the Texas Congressional Districts.....I thought we were supposed to be racially blind.....or is that just if you are a Conservative Republican.....?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:39:57 PM

Dr. Pete Kleff

The attacks on Romney's record at Bain Capital make me queasy. We do not really know all the facts as to why certain decisions were made. As a college professor who teaches law and management, I often find myself addressing the frequent difficult decisions facing management in a weak economy and the ethical dilemmas such decisions always present. While it might make an attractive 30 second sound bite to accuse an executive of being heartless, the reality is most often the case.

I do not support Romney's nomination. But I am disheartened at these criticisms of dubious truth and the guarantee of their use by Barry Obama and his allies in the Democrat left. Come on guys, there is plenty in Romney's political record to focus on. Do not paint a picture of ostensible Conservatives as anti-free market.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:44:03 PM

Terri

The people are HUNGRY for fiscal accountability. Romney will only feed the class warfare the Democrats are so adept at fomenting. With fellow GOP rivals using the same techniques against Romney, regardless of Bain's "success." Romney represents what many see as "ruthless" corporate America. With so many hurting and out of work, underemployed, losing their homes (to foreclosure), not making enough to make ends meet, and who now find themselves on government assistance against their own principles, Romney will not resonate with anyone other than elitists....and we've seen all too well how the elitists have run amok in America -- from the Fed's secret loans, to Fannie Mae to TARP and Abramoff-style insider self-dealing for special interests and their high-paid lobbyists. I, for one, find a Ron Paul presidency refreshing, and, frankly, the rescue of the little guy and ordinary citizens from the breeding ground of vermin inhabiting Washington. Romney represents more of the same...

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:44:18 PM

mikhail silo

Just remember this: The country is in big trouble. The people responsible for this come from the ruling class on both sides of the aisle.

The country's problems will not be cured by simply getting rid of Obama. They are far bigger than that.

There needs to be a regime change. We are on the cusp of a major political cataclyism. In major upheavals, sometimes babies get thrown out with the bathwater but this cannot deter us from our goal of getting rid of the old boy's network and returning to the founder's ideals.

I have not decided who is the best of the "not Romneys". None of them is perfect, to say the least, but you go to wat with what you have.

Romney, however nice a guy he may be, cannot be allowed to win. He represents a class of people who fancy themselves to be aristocrats. You know who I mean: the blue bloods who consider themselves to be American royalty: who consider themselves to be our betters: who consider themselves to be higher purpose persons, if you will.

They are the antithesis of America's original principles and are analogous to the British rulers that we rebelled against over two hundred years ago.

You have to make up your mind. Are you a loyalist or are you a patriot?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:46:40 PM

John Havener

This is beginning to sound like an old song: IF the Republicans don't stop vilifying each other and start working together to defeat Obama in November, we are going to have another four years of Obamanation. It is as simple as that - "a house divided against itself, cannot stand."

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:46:43 PM

marvy

with the impending massive shortage of docs only a 6th grade education including a course in first aid will be required to hang up your meical license...wow and i spent 12 post high school years getting mine...no one in their right mind would practice medicine under obamacare...thank the lord i quit, but i warned eneryone and for that i was threatened by hew...lesson...dont get sick or as i warned everyone...keep away from doctors they will kill you...

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:49:09 PM

Phil Harris

The way I see it, is that all GOP should be attacking Obama and not each other. Not only is it unseemly, but counter productive. Their attacks are great fodder for late night talk shows, but contibute nothing of substance.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:49:15 PM

desert

I personally think that no president today can be what we want in a prez...they are all picked by the NWO and promoted by the communist media....if this clown is what I think he is, he is in the same bag as the clintons, oblahma et al....and will go down in history as another Benedict Arnold.....I hope I am wrong..but don't think so!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:49:21 PM

Chris S

As to the question "which is more dangerous, the occupiers, or the rodents [they attract]?" It's a tough call. Both groups spread disease. Both groups infest an otherwise good environment and destroy it. Both groups feel entitled to take whatever they want. As far as dangerous, the edge goes to the occupiers. We aren't allowed to trap them and control their numbers. However, as far as IQ level, I'd say the rodents edge out the occupiers. A rat doesn't CHOOSE to live like a rat-an occupier DOES.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:49:42 PM

desert

I think the middle east needs another parking lot!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:50:57 PM

Keith White

I see Obama requesting another debt ceiling increase and the news said the congress would pass it as it was part of the agreement made last fall.

So was cutting the budget (that has not been passed for almost three years) with the super pack that was a farse to start with and I think may have been unconstitutioal.

The budget WAS NOT CUT AS IT WAS TO BE IN THE AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT, SO WHY ARE WE GOING TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT AGAIN AS THE AGREEMENT WAS BROKEN.

An agreement is an agreement and if some of it is broken or not honored as it was written then the whole agreement is trash,as this should be.

CONGRESS needs to not pass this till the agreed cuts are made. We can;t keep kicking the damn can down the road as there is a cliff ahead. WAKE UP

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:51:44 PM

blairblaster3

republican attacks on Romney/Bain are quite frankly as frightening as OBAMA-what idiocy! As for Newt, he should have deflected the PAC attacks on him thusly: "At the time I was a private citizen. If the other candidates want to attack me for what I did outside of government, trying to make a living as a private citizen, let them." For him to get petty because of attack ads in IOWA!? Please! He should have stayed on message: don't disparage another republican! If he had, he'd have done no better to this point but at least he would have demonstrated that he was the adult in the room, and kept the focus on dfeating OBAMA, which I had hoped. Now, it's become a contest of defending oneself and mud slinging, while giving the demonrats all the sound bites they need for the campaign. Moreover, all the candidates should boycott any more debates unless they choose the venue and the moderators.......what a crock of you know what! Memo to the repubs: stop looking like a bunch of teenage morons and start going after OBAMA! It's not as if there isn't enough to target!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:52:02 PM

Shorty Feldbush

I'm sorry Patriot Post, but I just don't understand why you are continuing to stir up the stink. Yesterday you presented the criteria for the Optimal Candidate based on your outline. You got a large response on your posted comments with the consensus clearly showing that your readership thinks that Ron Paul is the only candidate that even comes close to meeting your criteria.

Then today you take your boot and kick the horse manure in the road and as a result you got a lot of stink back. Now you got all the people who want to present an in-depth analysis of how much it stinks. You have played right into the hands of those who you are supposedly declaring as opponents of all the factors you support. I say STOP ALREADY!!!

Lets use some courage and declare Ron Paul as the candidate of choice and then spend the next 10 months letting everyone know why. Tell them the truth about Ron Paul and why he fits our Patriot Criteria for the man we want.

Do you have the guts to do this?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:53:54 PM

Richard Ryan

I know that a great many will scoff at my belief, but I firmly believe the US will be at war with Iran before the coming presidential election. Obama will use that as an excuse to cancel the coming election. He has proven beyond a doubt that he will use any excuse to skirt the constitution.

Richard Ryan

Lamar,Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:54:32 PM

JP Morgan

HELLLLLO! The debt crisis poses the biggest threat to our liberties and your discussing how the government can create jobs? I think the government has created enough mess! CUT,CUT,CUT! Eliminate and shrink most of the Federal government.

Romney is too big of a pussy to get that done!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:56:31 PM

Daylo

@Blairblaster3

As for Romney he should have not attacked Newt at all.

That would have solved EVERYTHING.

Blame the idiot who started it, please.

This hand-wringing about the ability to defeat Obama is getting on my nerves. We have plenty of OTHER candidates who can do that. There is Santorum and Newt.

Oh woe is me! Quit it people! it's unbecoming.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 12:57:09 PM

Mary M. Madsen

Frankly, I think these attacks are getting to be too much. Romney wasn't my first choice, but I think he's being unfairly attacked by some of his fellow Republican competitors, and find myself turning toward him.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:04:56 PM

RMS

What do I think of the Republican attacks on Romney? I think Gov "Taxachusetts, social medicare, gay marriage" Romney is a sick joke of a candidate that should be derisively laughed off by genuine conservatives.

If he gets the nomination, I will walk the streets of my neighborhood to campaign against him and write in Ron Paul at the polling booth.

Better to live with the devil-you-know Obama and keep the Tea Party movement on their toes than to have everyone go back to sleep while Obama-lite Romney finished the work Barry Soetoro started.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:05:09 PM

bogeya

I believe you and your news letter are beholding to the republican party leadership...drinking all the "kool aide" they are selling. Where were you when Romney's Super Pac's caused Newt to drop like a rock from his 30 point lead in the national polls?

Newt consistently followed Regan's 11th commandment..Don't speak ill of a fellow republican. Now the shoe is on the other foot and all you "experts" are screaming like stuck pigs.

The Republican party gave us McCain in '08, Bush in '00, Dole in '96 Bush in '88, Jerry Ford in '76, Nixon in '68, Goldwater in '64 Nixon in '60. As I recall the Conservative revolution began with Bill Buckley in the early '50's. How many of the above were true conservatives? The answer of course is none...Goldwater was more a libertarian (and in his last days a senile semi-democrap. Obviously, Ronald Reagan was the only true conservative! The party continues to pay lip service to Reagan, but gives us the likes of McCain,Dole,the Bushs'and all the others. None of the true conservatives in the current field are the "Party's choice. Look what they...the party did to Cain. They have gone after all the true conservatives, and you guy's go along. I'm disgusted!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:07:38 PM

Kent

'Back to the attic with the mammoth pelt.' Too funny!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:08:48 PM

MattMan

How is this the quote of the week?

I always thought capitalism WAS freedom?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:17:06 PM

Alvin Bartholomew

What ever happened to the day when political opponents respected their adversaries. When

conservatives attack conservaties it only gives cause to nonconservatives to go even further in their diatribes.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:17:10 PM

Marcus Brown

Judicial Benchmarks: A Win for Religious Liberty

"... the concept of separation of church and state is not meant to force religion from the public square. Rather it is to protect the church from the heavy hand of the state. .."

And I think it was to protect the state from the heavy hand of "the church (European style)"

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:17:30 PM

Marty Dempsey

Even the looming possibility, barring a Republican repeal of Obamacare crunches jobs. Small business cannot absorbe the elevated cost of the benefit to employees, so they hire less. PT employees don't get benefits, and don't earn a living wage. The costs of medical care will rise, thus increasing insurance payouts and co-pays. Providers will work with the smallest possible staff, and limit time with patients. Doctors with pay cuts will stop seeing patients they can't afford to treat. It's not just jobs Obamacare will devastate; it's the quality of care. It WILL lead to rationed care. Health care decisions and options will be regulated by the government and not doctors and their patients and/or families. Delays in treatment will increase progressive diseases and deaths. Proponests think that "everyone being insured" will make it all better, but the truth is, it will be worse for everyone, because what good is insurance that folks will have under Obamacare if it operates as it will under the law? The government cost of the stupidity of this law will bankrupt the nation. Why is our government willing to cut defense spending at a time when Iran is going nuclear by ahuge increase in health care costs? Why does Obama continue to waste federal funds on ear marks, useless government programs, his campaigning and vacationing, a huge staff of Czars and all the rest, while he refuses the develope our own energy resources, decrease instead of increae dumb regulations, empower the EPA more and more, engage in such a senseless forgeign policy, and with every stroke of his pen, create conditions that hurl our county to economic collapse? With his background in Islam, he should be very aware of the dangers of radical Muslims, the threat of terrorism, and Iran's progress toward the bomb. He should be taking care of Israel as the ally it is; instead, he despises this tiny nation. He is pro-Islam, pro-socialism, pro-new world order. It should be obvious to any thinking person that he is destroying the nation, and should be impeached. Few in Congress raise the cry and he arrogantly gets bolder each day. If he is re-elected, the country is toast. The things I hear people say in his defense are just plain stupid. Reid and Pelosi belong in the dementia ward of a nursing home. If the GOP doesn't clean up its act and pull together, put out a platform that shows definitively a better path than Obama has mapped out, we are doomed.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:17:54 PM

Daniel Buck

"Researchers used data on the Earth's orbit and other things to find the historical warm interglacial period that looks most like the current one. In the journal Nature Geoscience, they write that the next Ice Age would begin within 1,500 years -- but emissions have been so high that it will not."

This is not science, but pseudoscience. There are no known conditions existing in the present that could bring about the snowfall necessary to cover an entire continent with an ice sheet.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:23:26 PM

Judith H

I think the character attacks are appalling. It is definitely unbecoming, and such childish behavior provides unlimited fodder for those whose desire it is to keep the present imperialist regime in residence at the White House and in the vaunted halls of Congress. Get out of the gutter and back on track.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:24:27 PM

James Pogue

The GOP candidates have lost sight of the magic bouncing ball. They need to focus on Obama not finding fault with each other. Obama and his democrat henchmen is the problem. Romney is Obama in disguise.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:29:43 PM

L HYAK

These attacks in this manner are designed to invite max damage to another candidate to make them look less desireable but it seems that this has now evolved into demonstrating that the attacker has little or no commonsense or biz sense when it comes to the use of venture capitalist. The use of this tactic may have prepared the intended for the coming attack from the left but the total disregard for the party platform in order to make this incompetent point by another non coservatist who cottons to big government has made the attacker look futile and hysteric....I sure would like to see a real conservatist be the nominee in any case.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:31:42 PM

DrJ

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that rises above all this and stands firmly on the constitution. The dems are scared to death to have this guy face the big O in open debate. The dems love Romney and will smash him to pieces. Santorum will also get destroyed on his record. They can find practically nothing on Ron Paul except a few old newsletters that he did not write anyway. Dr. Paul does not lie, does not filp-flop, has an impeccable record and cannot be bought. None of the rest can say that.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:32:37 PM

Laz

With regards to the comparison between the medical coverage in MA and the so-called "Obamacare" many people are missing the point.

Good, bad, or indifferent; a state program is Constitutional a Federal program is not.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:38:19 PM

Ken Mooney

This is a truly great piece on Romney. Kudos to you.

There happens to be a perfectly complementary piece to this one, in today's Chicago Sun-Times, by Op-Ed writer Steve Huntley. It is titled "Romney Business Record a Success." See below for an on-point sample from the article. Here's the URL:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/9968029-452/romney-business-record-a-success.html

“Overall, Bain Capital’s record was extraordinary, among the best of the business,” writes Steven Rattner in Politico. That name may ring a bell. Rattner is a former private equity executive who was the lead auto adviser to the Obama administration during the government bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. Then the government played a role not unlike Bain. It took over two failing businesses, put them into bankruptcy, and shed employees and dealerships. It wasn’t private capital at risk but taxpayer funds. Though Democrats like to tout the success of GM and Chrysler, the bailout cost taxpayers $14 billion.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:42:33 PM

James Baldwin

Attack on Romney for Bain incredibly stupid from republican hopefuls. Capitalism and job creation/preservation is the acme of a capitalist endeavor. And profit fuels the system. You know, what republicans like. not big government politically correct statist bailouts like with GM, Chrysler, and Fannie Mae and on and on.

Romney will have to answer those charges about Bain, so OK, no harm done to HIM.

but not from the right, from republicans. Our friends have stepped in it with this one.

How smart is santorum for not joining the pile on?

FYI, I am not a Romney guy, have not contributed to him.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:43:41 PM

Chris S

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:45:09 PM

Frank Messersmith

I'm not a Romney fan, but the attacks by Gingrich, Perry, etc. are outrageous.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:46:23 PM

Daylo

Check out Samsonite Luggage Company and what was done to them during their buy out and subsequent bankruptcy.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:53:09 PM

twilight

their starting to sound like a bunch of hysterical females.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:55:05 PM

Klaus Schiessel

I am a Reagan conservative and I recently got an email entitled "We Can Still Stop Romney" in relation to the primary in South Carolina. I was appalled--it was from Newt Gingrich's supporters! How can we engage in politcal cannibalism when so much is at stake in this election cycle? I don't savor voting for a moderate Republican, but the ultimate goal afterall is to defeat Barack Hussein Obama. It is obvious that Republican candidates who attack one another for political gain are violating one of Reagan's chief axioms--don't criticize other Republicans in public. He understood the destructive dynamics of such activity. A candidate's success should not depend on attacking his opponent, but instead be based on highlighting their own positions on key issues and their track record--take pride in one's own accomplishments rather than attacking the other person. Such attacks are self-defeating, not only for the Republican cause but also towards winning over moderate Democrats who desperately want a legitimate reason to support someone other than Barak Obama. And you can bet that cleverly edited sound-bites of the Republican debates will be used in political campaign ads which end with the words, "I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message". Shame on us!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:57:50 PM

Hamilton

Pardon me for this interruption. I couldn't resist. Whenever the main stream media reports anything, we must read between the lines.

The main stream media is eagerly reporting Obama's desire to consolidate some federal departments, that he claims will save $3 Billion over 10 years. Before you conclude that Obama is turning over a new leaf by cutting government, consider this:

1. Republican leaders say that this move would entail congress granting Obama more power.

2. Lets look at the numbers. On an annual basis, $3 Billion over 10 years averages out to $300 Million per year. Our annual deficit is around $1.2 Trillion. So Obama's savings would be 0.025% of the annual deficit. Does anyone think that's significant?

3. On an overall basis, the $3 Billion savings accrued after the 10 years, would be 0.02% of our existing $15 Trillion debt. Does anyone think that's significant?

Given that Obama's policies have done nothing but damage our economy and ramp up more debt since he's been in office, one has to wonder about his motivations, and about the end results of ANY action he wants to take. Is this piss-in-the-ocean 0.02% reduction in our debt worth giving Obama more power?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 1:58:01 PM

Shirley Walton

Newt has more baggage than the baggage-car and Perry has his own baggage. Newt is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, a one world co and he said when Speaker that the constitution had run it course and needed to die. Perry has probably lost jobs in Texas "but that's not his fault" the jobs he claims to have created are probably low-paying jobs for illegals.

They both need to shut up this kind of talk---its mostly untrue and very unproductive to our nation.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:00:29 PM

C Herron

The attacks are idiotic. If the GOP doesn't get it together and go after the really enemy, Obama, the US is down the tube.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:04:50 PM

Julius J. Cassani

I think the critisism of Rommey's actions at Bain is unbelievable, especially from fellow Republicans who are suppose to believe in Capitalism and free market economies.It's what happens in U.S.business, there are winners and losers in a free market economy. Look what Obama did with GM, government taking control and laying off thousands of workers and dealers. Thats what a Dictator does and as an American citizen I'll take Rommey,any day,over that socialist Obama who's trying to change this country.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:10:06 PM

Sedated

Nice way to guarantee a victory to our opposition, by filling their campaign smudge coffers with quotes from our own people. I'm all for changing the landscape within the oval office, but do we want it that bad to elect one of these nitwits?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:13:54 PM

Joseph hebert

Israel wants the US to attack Iran in the worst way.

There is zero evidence, (even the CIA says so!) of

any nuclear weapons producing activity in Iran, just

as there was zero evidence of WMD in Iraq. Also, all

the GOP candidates, with the exception of Ron Paul,

are slaves and servants to Israeli lobbyists. One day

we'll wake up, and we'll have bombed Iran, and then

there'll be nothing anyone can do to stop it from con-

tinuing. Very bad, indeed.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:16:53 PM

jack eich

Ron Paul is the only hope for freedom and liberty before we are so embroilled in socialism that our republic is gone

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:18:46 PM

Julie

What do I think of Republican attacks on Romney? They're ALL career politicians, and will do and say ANYTHING in order to get elected. I do not trust the lot of them. I think they're all liars, except for maybe Rick Santorium. But the fix is in. The Obama Administrations wants Mitt and the RNC is just as corrupt, so it looks like we're all wasting our time. Mitt will be the chosen one by the RNC whether we like it or not. And I don't because Mitt is not true to himself or our country. They all just want the power and glory. Mirror images of Obama, I'd say. I say attack away. It's not going to change the outcome unless somebody comes forth claiming to have had an affair with Mitt.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:25:48 PM

Ray Samson

I am fed up with the bickering between the GOP want-a-be's. I'm also wondering why each and everyone of them don't look the debate commentator right in the eye and tell him/her that they are here to debate the issues not each other. If you want to know how I feel about my running mates read it on my website.

I will vote against Obama, only because of his lies and the fact we couldn't get any worse ...... I don't think.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:39:26 PM

Jack C.

Republicans are spending a lot of time and money attacking each other when the real enemy is the current president and his administration. What is needed is for the party to get its act together, consolidate resources, provide a common front and go after the real goal. While the Republicans are bickering among themselves as who is better suited to lead the country, the Democrats are building their war chests and gathering fodder from our internal squabbling for the real battle coming in November. Republicans are currently demonstrating we don’t have the ability to lead and anyone would be better as president.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:40:12 PM

Dick Stewart

The attacks on Mitt Romney referring to his tenure as CEO of Bain Capital are at best uninformed and untruthfull due to telling only chosen parts of the total story. At worst it was blatent lies and casting slurs for political advantage. These kind of tactics diminish the perpetrators.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:48:08 PM

Mike McGrath

The criticism of venture capital companies is evidence of a total lack of understanding of the nature, function and importance of capital lending. If the democrats use this tact in their campaign against Romney, he would have a great counter-attack - "That is further evidence of your complete ignorance of economics." However, as pointed out, Obama can now simply use quotes from Gingrich, Perry and Huntsman, and force Romney to continually try to respond to critism within his own party. Way to go, guys! Talk about tying one brain behind your back going into the election!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:49:18 PM

Bill DeFelice

Romney's critics.Pres.Reagan is rolling over,in his grave.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:49:20 PM

Idaho Mom

"Bain's record is, on balance, one of creating jobs and wealth; its enormous successes with Domino's Pizza, Serta and Staples come to mind, along with the tens of thousands of jobs created. Obama's record is one of destroying jobs and redistributing wealth. If Romney is to be the nominee and win over conservative support, he will need to improve greatly his ability to communicate that message. Besides, a few pink slips in the government are in order."

I love this last paragraph of your article. I think the republican nominees are all shooting themselves, and the rest of us that want Obama out, in the foot. What good does this do to split hairs just to "prove" Romney shouldn't be where the people are placing him with their votes?

I wouldn't want to be a presidential nominee, but if I were I hope I wouldn't do what they are doing. It's embarrassing!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:50:37 PM

Bill DeFelice

Bamer care will kill jobs!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:55:12 PM

bill killmer

I am disgustee with newt, whom I formerly backed

Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:58:29 PM

Mike S.

I want a true conservative heading the ticket. I see Romney as a moderate, or at best a conservative come lately. Romney works too well with liberal democrats and by doing so will push the country more toward socialism.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:00:27 PM

Senator-Blutarsky

Rank-and-file "Republicans" seem to be interested in nothing more than a "just master". If it is to return to a party of limited government, it cannot support or elect another Wall Street puppet. Rmoneys main contributors are Goldman Sachs, while Gingrich, Santorum, Perry and Huntsman are fellow globalist puppets.

Ron Paul is " the last train out " for a return to true Constitutional principles - end of discussion.

“Most men do not desire liberty; most only wish for a just master.”

Sallust (86-34BC)

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:00:55 PM

Bill DeFelice

The events happening in Iran bear a close watch.We don't need another sneak attach,like the clinton regime hatched.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:02:03 PM

Harry Bettis

It's very discouraging to hear "conservative" politicians bash a successful businessperson. If they think Romney is too liberal then stick with that message but don't run down the free enterprise system. Maybe we shouldn't expect so much from career politicians. It's obvious they are running scared and care only about their own political careers

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:02:29 PM

A Murricun

The Republican candidates aren't even effective pols. All of them think and act like they are running against one another.

The truth is that they *must* demonstrate to Republican voters and kingmakers that they can defeat Obama. They *must* run against Obama from the get-go, not against one another.

An effective leader is one who points out the goal and hires effective people who will commit to the goal. None of these guys (or gals, Bachmann or Palin) has shown this quality.

Thanks for asking that question. It helps me understand my uneasiness with the whole bunch.

It seems that the only hope of defeating Obama is the campaign to keep him off the state ballots due to the "birther" issue.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:05:02 PM

Elaine Vinzant

Romney has the background and experience to turn the Obama administration around and start creating jobs. He has a good chance of defeating Obama if Gingrich and Perry will quit trying to slander him. Do they care more about the USA or themselves?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:07:54 PM

Gordon Murphy

I applaude The Patriot Post for speaking out in behalf on Romney and Bain. I have been in manufacturing my entire business life and understand that companies like Bain must make very difficult decisions regarding the validity of the organizations under their control. In today's business climate is truly is survival of the fittest, and tough calls have to be made in order to save those entities that are sucessful and show promise. The other GOP candidates understand this, and are being deceitful in their attacks. Those who understand business see right through these types of tactics.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:08:25 PM

Bill DeFelice

Publik neusence rats.

Well since the Occupyers choose to live in squaller,and the fury rats,are well rats,the occupyers are the most dangerous.They provide food for the fury rats,spreading disease.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:08:51 PM

R. Graham Weigand

Romney, while he would not be my personal choice, is leading. Those who are behind him in the polls are showing pettiness and a lack of "Y" chromosomes by attacking him over his tenure at Bain Capital. They should either show where they are better than Romney in a positive manor, or step aside as a runner and support him (i.e. fish or cut bait). Those who are following Romney at this point are acting like Democrats with their smear tactics. At this point, I think I would have to back Romney. John Bolton would have been my personal choice for Prez, but he isn't running.....

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:12:23 PM

Idaho Mom

I've done some research on Ron Paul's foreign policy, which I am very skeptical of and will keep me from voting for him. Here's a quote from a good article and the address for the site. Again, my opinion of Dr Paul is that he has nice thoughts, great views of liberty, but is not a leader.

"He [Ron Paul] is afflicted with foreign policy myopia: A disbelief in the complete and independent reality of a world outside of the United States, a world in which real people living entirely beyond the realm of our lives. To such thinking, the "outside world" is merely an undifferentiated repository of resentment against U.S. imperialism. Consider Paul's frequent implication that people everywhere view American forces on their soil as occupiers. As one who has lived in South Korea for almost five years, I can vouch for the fact that such a sentiment is uncommon here -- although it occasionally appears among leftists who sympathize with communist North Korea."

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/12/ron_pauls_foreign_policy_exposed.html#ixzz1jN4mNmjE

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:18:48 PM

Judy

I was actually a Perry supporter prior to the attacks on free enterprise. He had military experience and has been a successful Governor. Since the attacks on free enterprise though I have changed my support to Romney.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:30:29 PM

Glenn Swogger Jr

I hope Romney"defends" himself by pointing out the many successes of Bain in providing jobs and competitive business, in contrast to government programs that keep dead and mismanaged companies alive at the expense of the taxpayer. Gingrich, despite his smarts, has proven himself both ethically and competitively flawed by his attacks and many other actions. Romney isn't perfect, but given the quality of his opponents, he wins by default.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:30:32 PM

John Stone

The last line is the most important - the government needs to be remade.

Bain made money by betting they could rebuild businesses that were unprofitable or heading to bankruptcy. This means they took their investors money - investors who willingly were in on the bet - and did their best to return the most money. Nobody asked me before they bet my money on Solyndra or "invested" it in the EPA.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:33:25 PM

A Murricun

Iran - the assassinations aren't US doing - the BHO admin is just too wussy. Likely suspects are Mossad and local resistance guys. The magnet bomb of a day or so ago says high-tech, aka Mossad. But who knows how much tech and financial support the locals are getting or from whom?

The Straits - sure, anyone can blockade them for a few hours, but can they make it stick? I doubt it. Don't know offhand the inventories of the 2 carriers, but 40 to 100 planes sounds right - enough to decimate the Iranian navy in a few hours. It's a game of chicken - the Iranians think we'll blink, and we can't believe they are serious about wasting all that materiel on a losing bid.

I hope it goes into a shooting war - we win and the other Middle East wannabes and Islamists go away to lick their wounds.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:35:29 PM

Allen

Romney started the attacks on Newt. Politics can

be awful at times . I never have liked Romney-

he seems to talks down to most people , I am not

sure about the other things that he has been

accused of .

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:41:40 PM

Fred Kern

Romney is not conservative enough for me but it looks like he's the favorite. Our goal is to remove Obama and his band of marxist morons so let's leave Mitt alone and focus on the task at hand. Obama has given us so much amuntion anyone could slaughter him in a debate. He's ripe for the picking let's not let him get away.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:51:54 PM

One VA Patriot

To all those who think the discussion contained on these pages is pathetic and handing the next four years over to Obama, perhaps it would be better if we did away with the primaries. If we did not have the primaries and just allowed the RNC to decide who would be our candidate, then we could all rally round the selected one and cheer ourselves to victory!

Not.

Be each person voicing an opinion as to whom they think best to stand in opposition to Barack Hussein Obama, we are demonstrating a profound trust in the democratic system and a belief in a republican form of government. We are only two states into this primary season, and already there are those who complain that the issue remains open.

I hope that the issue is not decided until the Republican Convention. I do not want my candidate decided by some granite head in New Hampshire, or some hayseed in Iowa. As shown above the primary is not decided and the republican party benefits from an open discussion. We need to air all ideas, those with merit may make it into our parties plank. Those found wanting will wither and dry on the floor of the convention hall.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:54:17 PM

Robert Brannon

The Republican presidential candidates who are attacking Romney are supplying the Obama Administration with fodder to repeat if/when Romney gets the nomination and has to face Obama in the General Election. They remind me of the overall attitude of the Republican establishment, whose only concern is how they can retain or acquire power regardless of how it hurts the party. Many Republicans, like myself, will vote for whomever wins the nomination for the party because there is no other option in the General Election. Even though Romney would not be my first choice in the Primary, he would be my choice in the General. Republicans need to learn how to work together for the common good of America and not for their own good.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:54:42 PM

Disqualifies these guys for me! There is plenty to criticize about how the country is being run, the constitutional issues, and the debt bomb that is in place. These candidates could highlight how they would solve these problems. Instead of providing quotes to the Democrats.

You now have Republicans sounding like liberals attacking capitalism (Bain) which is like attacking the rich for making money - which in the liberal world means on the backs of the poor or by cheating everyone else. I guess Bain was supposed to subsidize the failing companies and redistribute their investors’ money to prop up failing companies. Sounds like a bunch of Demo/libs to me.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:56:37 PM

Marian

It's disgusting. They should be highlighting their own good works instead of slamming someone else.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:57:58 PM

Rob Liesik

The attacks on Romney for Bain Capital are despicable. Here is some more balanced treatment of the accusations in the Gingrich ads:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/12/the-bain-bomb-fizzles/

Posted January 13, 2012 at 3:58:52 PM

Dean Cox

I think the Republican candicates are hurting the GOP by all the back stabbing each other. What I would like to see it Chris Christie and Rubio from Florida wait until the very last second and come out, there fore excaping all the liberal media from hacking them to pieces, excaping all the B.S. that is going on in the Republican primary, they would be a shoo-in for sure, Rubio netting the Latino vote and Christi netting the rest. that would make one hell of a great team to clean up Washington.

We need a team in the Whitehouse that is not afraid to make HARD CHOICES. I call it "kicking butt & taking names".

deano................

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:05:07 PM

Kix

I think it would have been to the advantage of the establishment GOP to have actually done a little investigating of Bain Capital before they started their hatchet attacks on Newt Gingrich on behalf of their guy Romney. Because when it finally comes out that good old Mittens and Bain are being investigated by the FBI for tax evasion and insider trading, they'll realize too late that they've handed the nomination over to one of their own NEOCONS, only to have Obama yank it out from under them.

Of course I won't expect the likes of Bill Kristol or any of the so-called "fair and balanced" folks at Fox News to apologize to Newt. No... they'll do just as they did when their RINO McCain threw Sarah Palin under the bus and handed the 2008 election away. They'll all make money off it. After all, they do love capitalism, don't they?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:06:15 PM

Jim

The so-called Republicans who are decrying the 'harsh' results of Romney's Bain Capital have no real understanding of America's free-enterprise system and our capitalistic business model. Gingrich, Perry, and Huntsman are NOT true conservatives IF they continue on this path of attack. As a Utahn, I can personally declare to all those who would tend to lean towards Huntsman or consider him as our nominee... DON'T! As a Utah State Delegate when Huntsman ran for Gov I saw how he ran as a candidate. He is all talk. He governed in a conservative state as a milque-toast moderate... and we don't need a RINO in the WH.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:08:17 PM

Norma

Those who attack are themselves the diminished.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:10:41 PM

Richard Dowis

Gingrich and others attacking Romney/Bain either don't understand, or choose to ignore, that fact that creating jobs is a by-product, not the main purpose, of business. Profit is the sine qua non of business. What Romney/Bain did for businesses is analogous to what a surgeon might do for a person with a badly damaged leg -- cut off the leg or let the person die. If a business cannot profit, it will die. Better for the person with the bad leg to lose it than die. Better for the sick business to lose some of its employees than to fold.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:12:49 PM

Alton

Why beat up on our own, there is plenty to use on Obama if anyone has the stomach for it. It is obvious Congress doesn't nor the courts. Obama is a smooth debater. He's been groomed all his life to talk or run his mouth. One weakness his he probably won't have his teleprompter and he doesn't do well without it unless he has the script memorized.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:15:09 PM

Dennis

I realize that politics is dirty, but do Republicans have to get right down in the muck and roll around in it with the pigs? Lies, deception and distortion are tried and true tactics of the Left. Conservatives -- if, indeed, these candidates are conservatives -- ought to avoid them.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:15:19 PM

Bill

These things will certainly be hurled at Romney in the General Election. The general public, rightly or wrongly, is inclined to believe that Republicans are greed mongers and economic royalists like the robber barons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That is why the GOP is a dead weight dragging conservatism down.

If Romney can successfully counter those charges he may be able to combat the even scummier ones the Obamistas will frepeatedly hurl at him and which will be amplified and rehurled ad nauseam by the mainstream media. If not he will go down in flames.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:18:28 PM

RBernhard

I emailed Newt's site a day or two ago asking him to drop out. He is embarrassing the Republicans and this country.

RBernhard

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:18:34 PM

Bill

Why trash the rodents; of course the occupiers is the answer

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:19:45 PM

Henry

I, for one, am tired of the sniping that the so called candidates go after each other with maningless accusations that are totaly not relevant to the problem(s)at hand and focus as to what each and everyone of them will do to DEFEAT the current regime that is leading this Great Country down the path of NO RETURN , but most of all, make the "community organizer" a one-termer and that should be the paramount goal.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:27:08 PM

Senator-Blutarsky

Ron Paul is " the last train out " for a return to true Constitutional principles - end of discussion.

“Most men do not desire liberty; most only wish for a just master.”

Sallust (86-34BC)

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:38:59 PM

Abu Nudnik

"The Obama administration has officially requested an increase of $1.2 trillion in the debt ceiling. The increase was expected as part of last summer's debt-limit deal between Congress and the White House. According to the Treasury Department, the U.S. reached the $15.194 trillion debt limit on Jan. 4. The House is expected to vote next week, where many Republicans will oppose it. Still, even if both House and Senate reject it, the president can veto and raise it anyway."

Something's missing here. Only Congress can appropriate money. Therefore Congress must have pre-approved it in the "debt-limit deal" you mentioned. So what is the point of the vote? Or am I wrong and you're wrong, that he can't raise the limit without Congressional approval?

-Confused

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:41:50 PM

Brenda J. Soniega

Despicable!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:42:08 PM

Jerry Smythe

Cheap shots. Never should have been said by any honest Republican. At one point, I liked Newt. No more. All he did was prove his detractors right. I will not support him.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:43:07 PM

RBernhard

I emailed Newt's site a day or two ago asking him to drop out. He is embarrassing the Republicans and this country.

RBernhard

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:44:46 PM

David Groves

Well, I've been participating in politics since Harry Truman and this is the first time that I have seen Republican candidates who seem to prefer attacking each other instead of Obama. Have come to the conclusion that I will be voting for the best of the worst, but I will vote for somebody other than Obama.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:45:21 PM

Jim Staudt

Because of Gingrich's personal attacks against Mitt Romney, Newt has gone from a "hero" to a "zero" in my estimation. I loved the positive Newt of the debates, but when he retaliated against Romney he lost my support and my vote. Yes, you could say Romney started it, but at least he could claim the ads that were run in Iowa were out of his control. Gingrich, on the other hand, has taken every opportunity to personally bash and debase Romney. And his insistence that Romney "needs to have a press conference" to explain his Bain Capital role, I say to Newt, you are in no position to tell any other candidate what they "need" to do.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:58:30 PM

soretoe

Picking on what one does for a living is as good as saying you win. I'll bet each one of them has a closet too.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 4:59:34 PM

Subsailor

Re the carriers being deployed. When was the last time they were home? The Navy keeps shrinking and the people spend more and more time deployed. It is like Jimmy Carter reincarnated only worse.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:05:17 PM

Suzanne

ALL Republican candidates need to stay focused on real issues and how they would address them if elected. Quit the in house fighting. We really don't care about the finger pointing, attack ads and whining. We do care about solutions to the many problems we face. Tell us how you will fix them - in real terms real numbers and realistically if faced with a Democratic controlled Senate.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:08:12 PM

Ron

I'm not a Romney supporter, but I'm real tired of the multiple Bain radio ads during Rush's program here in Florida supported by Gingrich. It has completely turned me against Newt. He should drop out before he ruins our chances!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:17:13 PM

corky couthitt

on one hand, criticizing him now, weakens the attacks if he is the candidate (Yuck).. one the other hand, I would prefer his opponents to stress what they WILL do to fix America, to beat Obama, to return this country to its Conservative base and reverse ObamaCare. Only Democrats can rip each other apart in the primaries and then be BFF's at election time.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:28:29 PM

C. W. Good

I for one would whether hear what they are going to do to reverse all this crap that Obama has put in place. I also want to see a vast decrease in the federal government. I believe we're witnessing again the results of liberals running the government. Anyone who hasn't the sense to stop borrowing when they can't even pay on the loan they have is an idiot. Idiots do not belong in the government!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:31:21 PM

Donald McKeighen

I believe barry is trying to recreate a scenario such as what was during world war 2, in which he could become a 'wartime' president, and if that doesn't happen he will, irregardless, usurp the Constition by that same standard, in other words, barry will himself, force the tenent of Thomas Jefferson which involves watering the tree of liberty, God help us all if I'm right.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:49:59 PM

William B. Allen

I think that the Republicans attacking each other is stupid. They are giving Obama all kinds of material to use campaigning. We want to get rid of Obama not help him.

WBA

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:58:23 PM

Bob Neidert

If only they would 'attack' President Obama with the same fervor! There is so much fodder.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 5:58:40 PM

A.A. Leverich

Please, please Republicans stop all the in fighting.

Remember the objective. Get the failed administration voted out this November 2012.

I am so disappointed in all the candidates because of the cheapshots on each other.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 6:01:20 PM

Gary Chambers

Romney is the "BANE" that will sink the Republican Party once more. It is beginning to look as if the Republicans are far to dumb to realize that running RINOs like evil Romney is what elects democrats to power. If Romney is the best we have to offer then we are in real deep DOO DOO. We are headed towards a Dole? / Mcain type of loss. If you support Romney then welcome the next four years of obama because that is where we are headed. We need a candidate with solid PRINCIPLES and that leaves Flip Romney out in the cold.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 6:01:43 PM

Senator-Blutarsky

Ron Paul is " the last train out " for a return to true Constitutional principles - end of discussion.

“Most men do not desire liberty; most only wish for a just master.”

Sallust (86-34BC)

Posted January 13, 2012 at 6:20:10 PM

veteran

Republican firing squad..Stand in a circle...

Posted January 13, 2012 at 6:20:22 PM

J H Martin

I am (& many friends) are so sick of all the mud slinging!

Just let us know how & what you would to to get our

country out of this slump. Economy, jobs are the priorities...

GET ONTO the TOPICS !!!

Let the Dems. bring up the garbage & be ready to defend yourself.

I have begun to throw all political mail right into the garbage...

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!" (Samuel Adams) · " AMEN !

Posted January 13, 2012 at 6:35:43 PM

JPSerino

While you are being fair, you forgot to mention Mr. consistent, who for 40 years has been hammering away with the same message of limited central government, personal and state, then national sovereignty in that order and liberty as it is protected by the Constitution. All we hear is either nothing or that "he is unelectable" because his foreign policy is "dangerous". It seems to me that ever expanding government power is what breeds corruption, deception and a duplicitous foreign policy that breeds enemies, not friends, because we no longer are good representatives of true liberty.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:03:02 PM

Dale Southworth

Jobs?! What jobs?!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:06:53 PM

Bernard P. Giroux

Stop criticizing Romney. Read his NH speech. If that does not convince you to vote for him, nothing will. And the other candidates should follow Reagan's advice: to paraphrase: Do not criticize fellow Republicans. The job here is to beat Obama, not destroy another candidate. The job is to put the basic tenets of a free republic forward so that the regular Joe the Plumber understands what the objective should be to defeat Obama. The Republicans need to focus against the statists and central government; they are being warned left and right to stop crunching each other and move ahead with a platform to defeat Obama. He has an enormous war chest and the problem is, he has the press with him, unfortunately. His actions are deplorable and he certainly has no love for the Constitution. So focus and defeat. Otherwise, this country is going to hell. It does not matter one farthing what Mitt did before; what matters is what he says and does now. Read the NH speech.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:19:39 PM

Drspank

The recent attacks on Romney are the acts of desperate men.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:31:45 PM

Daryl Davis

Whatever became of the 11th Commandment? Who needs the DNC when you got Newt and Ron?

As Ann Coulter points out, Romney is the ONLY candidate of either Party who supports E-verify, the ONLY way to keep American jobs from going to undocumented workers and attracting an unending flood of more illegal aliens. If you want America to end up like California, with a voting majority of free-loaders and government program dependents, vote for anyone else. Coulter predicts that if Santorum is elected, he will be the last Republican President.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:34:21 PM

Kix

I see all the comments about how despicable Gingrich is for talking about Bain Capital and whining that a more balanced view needs to be considered. Here's a novel idea though. How about instead of cutting good ol' Mittens another break we actually look at the facts about Bain Capital.

Insider Trading anyone?

http://fixamerica-fredmars.blogspot.com/2012/01/so-you-want-which-fox-to-guard-hen.html

How about Tax evasion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ayint66IUs&feature=player_embedded#!

It seems good ol' Mittens doesn't mind raising taxes on us lower class citizens, but he'll even go to criminal extents to avoid them himself.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 7:52:59 PM

Dale

I think there's folks in Wash. that will do anything to go to war and take out Iran. After all, the plan was 7 countries in 5 yrs, wasn't it? Syria and Iran being the only two left. All one has to do is look at the line of recent events, most look like made up crap, to see. We armed Isreal, and while Iran with nuke bombs would be bad, why would they risk being blown out of the water with the US. and close countries, with nukes also, watching? We need to quit the crap, become energy independent, and get out of the Middle East. Why not ask some of those questions?

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:00:49 PM

Chris

I am saddened when I see our GOP candidates attack with leftist and socialist rants against Mitt. I daresay I have since dropped Newt from my choice since his negative attitude has shadowed his ability to wow the audience during the et debates. Newt and Perry are not Cting like the conservatives we hunger for. Mitt Romney spoke more Conservative than the attack dogs pretending to be something other than Reagan conservatives. While some will disagree with my take then so be it. Mitt at this point is the only one who will beat the Obama regime! Thus he has my vote. Obama machine knows where to hit hard on Newt. My dear GOP candidates, stop the infighting and playing the role of the Bickermans and focus on how each of you can defeat the Obama/Soros socialist assault on our beloved Constitution and the Americak values tried and true by our founders and framers since 1776! God Bless America!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:01:19 PM

D. Cleveland

All of the self-deluded folks with shallow memories seem to have forgotten that Mitt Romney was one of the prime beneficiaries of the "de-industrialization" of America. Ethical capitalists know Romney for what he did and the industries he helped move off-shore. Denials of those facts are an excercise in futility and deception.

Then we have Romney-Care; Obama-Care at the Mass. state level, that is at this moment providing the harbingers of the disaster that Obama-Care has in store for us all. Do the research.

Romney on the floor of the Mass Legislature called for the banning of all "assault rifles". Romney said,"Assault weapons have no place in Mass. They have no purpose but to be used to kill people." Look it up - do some research.

Romney is the "White Obama" clad in a soiled and disgraced Republican sheepskin. I have voted Republican my entire life - 40 years of elections. The arrogance and hubris of an RNC / Republican establishment that thinks to allow such a sorry example of conservatism, so called, leadership to emerge during this election cycle is an insult to Constitution and the Freedom America used to stand for. Bob Dole - John McCain - now Barrack Romney.

I don't think so. If this is the best we can do - we deserve to lose.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:33:34 PM

Jack Schlicht

These criticisms are a sad display of hypocrisy.

They have to know that the number of jobs SAVED

far exceeds the number of jobs lost.

To refuse to cite that a company saved and rendered

profitable is a substantial contribution to the

society and the executor of that achievement should

be complimented rather than condemned.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:35:51 PM

Robert E8 USN, Ret

That did it! I refer to the event in Tucson a year ago.The comments of Wasserman-Schultz, as most of the Democrat nonsense, really irritate the concept of reality! Question; where were the Sheriff's (Pima County,Democrat) deputies? Not in evidence. At a previous affair by Congresswoman Gifford (Douglas, AZ) there were not less than eight (8) armed officers circulating! No such appearance in Tucson. Why not? Suggestion; the real target was the Judge (Republican) that was hearing a very complicated case. The misadventure of Ms. Gifford, I suggest, was a byproduct of the real target, the Judge. Why else the absence of armed escort? The affair was a tragedy! The loss of innocent life an atrocity! Had there been an armed officer nearby, the events would have had a far different outcome. Why was there no armed "protection", as there was at all previous such events involving Ms. Gifford? The miscreant was stopped by an unarmed elderly woman! Where is he now? Very little is heard of his whereabouts or disposition. There is something very much amiss in this matter! Wasserman-Schultz, as all Democrats is a fabricator and in plain words, a LIAR! Please vote in November!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:44:09 PM

Michael Murrray

The rest of the Republican field (with a couple of notable exceptions) are fools. I personally think Obumma has perfectly positioned himself to be reelected. Republicans (particularly Perry, Santorum and Gingrich) have, with the willing help of the media, carried Obumma's water in the attempted destruction of Romney and Paul. Obumma (with their help) eliminated the black "Oreo" challenger Cain) and no one said a word. He will wait until June or July and announce the removal of troops from Afghanistan and will push for some kind of amnesty. The amnesty, even if it doesn't work, (along with the blocking of voter ID acts), will guarantee him a butt load of Hispanic/illegal votes. His "Continuing-Debt-Limit-Increase-With-No-Vote-in-Congress" bill will allow him to keep the gravy train running and the Parasite Voters fed.It will also remove the debt from the table as an issue since is was a Republican House (with a few exceptions) who passed it.

Obumma will be reelected, the spending spree will continue, He will appoint 2 or 3 more Supremes, and The Republicans will probably never recover. Welcome the new Whig party to the pages of history. Romney, rightly or wrongly is done for. The "Bain Capitol Bastard" title will be hung around his neck and, if nominated, he will lose big. Paul, wrongly will continue to be denigrated by the right wing AND left wing media and be declared "unelectable". Not true, but a self fulfilling prophecy

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:46:01 PM

glen dunahoo

romney, perry paul gingrich, santorum are all 100% antifirearm enthusiasts and should not be considered for anything of higher authority than dogcatcher!!!!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 8:53:12 PM

I L MARSH

The Iranians have a long history in supporting terror. Iraq kicked their butt. Send in the MARINES, and remind them that they were responsible for the 286 death's in Beruit! We'll show those bastards, what terror is all about!

SEMPER FI

Posted January 13, 2012 at 9:03:09 PM

H. Briggs

I believe Mitt shouldn't have started this by letting (having?) his group start the negative adds.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 9:31:27 PM

JILL KUHLMEYER

I ONLY HOPE THIS "MOVIE" PER GINGRICH TURNS ATOUND AND BITES HIM IN THE "BUTT"--HOW AWFUL TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A HALF HOUR OF CRAP IS BEYOND ME. GINGRICH IS BY NO MEANS UP FOR SAINTHOOD AND IT ONLY HURTS THE REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL. WHAT A BUFOON

Posted January 13, 2012 at 9:45:09 PM

Jon Savage

No political background. Drove truck for many years. Spent some time in US Canoe Club. Not too smart, hmm?

The Republican Party has self-destructed! Does not take much smarts to see that! Romney is the choice of the MSM to be defeated by Obama. The rest of the "so-called Republican "contenders are also self-destructing. The clear choice was Michelle Bachmann, as far as intelligence, dedication, and focus. The Republican Party dropped her. Palin was smart enough to see that coming and stayed out. Republican (leaders?) and Democrat Socialists have the same image in the mirror. The only thing that will ensure the continuance of this Republic, as it was founded, is a clear demonstration of arms! Just as it did in the 1700's! Why else the clear and present effort to disarm the American Populace? Obama, et al, is no different (except in face) than King George! Martial Law in December 2012, NLT January 2013! Keep your powder dry !Revolution immediately follows!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 10:09:16 PM

Robert E8 USN, Ret

LL Marsh, yes! That post by (Savage) has some merit!

How can we support Jundiallah in Iran? Seem to be doing well, as most guerrilla efforts do! Same as (Savage) mentions! I hate war, and deplore combat! But it is (seemingly) the only way to save this Republic from the tentacles of the Socialist Democrats. Spent many, many years in that effort. A bit older, still hit the black cicle, let's get this done!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 10:22:52 PM

digger

They are like a bunch of 1st graders in fighting to see who can be noticed ! I have been a republican for 55 yrs, and I would like to see the party more involved with the tea party !!!

Posted January 13, 2012 at 10:29:49 PM

Sibyl O'Banion

I think Mitt is a patriot but he needs to get busy and get his rebuttal out big time.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 10:46:42 PM

Jack Watson

Republicans are supposed to be the party of capitalism. That means you pays your money and takes your chances. Venture capitalists invest their money to turn around business that are failing or have failed. Bain succeeded around 70% of the time. The 30% or so that failed would have done so anyway and those employed would have lost their jobs, only sooner.

To attack the heart of capitalism is foolhardy. Those who have done so have, in my mind, forfeited the right to be called capitalist. They are Progressive Republicans that really favor more government intrusion in our lives, for whatever reason. I'm not saying that I support Romney. I don't. I supported Cain. I will support the nominee as any Republican is better than Obama! But we really don't need to give Obama fodder for the fight to come in the general election. Shame on Gingrich and Perry for doing so. Or even worse, they actually believe what their saying.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:10:59 PM

Retired Veteran

Personally I find the Republican candidates attacks on Romney as despicable. Romney may have made some mistakes, but so have the rest of them. Instead of trying to broadcast to the world the foibles of each Republican candidate, they should be working together to defeat Obama. Granted, they need to determine which of the candidates is best for the Republican national candidate but that would be better discovered by the various candidates advertising their best characteristics & how they propose to correcting the deft & other issues that currently plague this nation. I could probably find dirt on any of the candidates but when you stop to think that the bulk of the voters last placed an individual into the Whitehouse who has never run any company nor even genuinely supervised any group of people. Further, this guy has a mysterious history where no one can verify his actual college performance, where he gained all of this money to go to the finest schools (when his family was allegedly lower middle class); who had ties with people that clearly want the worst for this country; and... I could go on and on but I think you get the picture that the current occupant of the Whitehouse lacks the verifiable qualifications to hold the highest office in the land. In point of fact, he still cannot supply a US birth certificate that has not been subjected to computer document modification. On the other hand, a birth certificate was once found that could be verified as unaltered, signed by the English Magistrate over the area now known as Kenya which does identify a boy born to Barrack Hussein Obama, Sr. Bottom line, the Republican candidates should be busy displaying & talking up their individual qualifications rather than trying to nit pick each other apart.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:35:37 PM

John K

I think it's about time Gingrich went on the attack against Romney. I cringe when I contemplate another moderate facing Obama like McCain...and Romney is definitely a moderate. I'm for Gingrich because I believe he has the most experience, the best at debating intelligently, the most know how on how to get Congress to do what's necessary, the best brain on foreign policy, and he has a proven record that he does have the know how and will do it.

Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:47:32 PM

Yeshua friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI9yjhd8b84&feature=player_embedded Flip Flop Romney.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 12:11:56 AM

d. j. endlein

romney is just another progressive hiding beneath the facade of conservatism.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 12:17:54 AM

d. j. endlein

romney is just another progressive hiding beneath the facade of conservatism.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 12:18:41 AM

Boo

How will Obamacare affect jobs? Government jobs will continue to increase and private sector jobs will decrease. Government (the way we have it now) tries to grow itself, not go on a diet.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 1:40:22 AM

MmeMoxie

Obamacare will definitely, lower the standards for medicine. Many jobs will be lost, due to 'mandates' by Obamacare. The worst of it, is that it will be the lower paying jobs, that will be eliminated, not the highest paying jobs, like President or CEO of a hospital or any of the Nursing Directors, of which there are way too many in any hospital or any of the Managers of all Departments. Who will lose jobs, in all of this? It will be the 'backbone' services (the ancillary services) of any hospital, like Housekeeping, Maintenance, Cafeteria Workers and the like.

In the end, our hospitals will be full of infections, because of not enough housekeepers to clean the hospital. A probable increase in the lose of patient life, due to increased infections. Plus, poor patient prognosis, for surgical procedures, mainly due to a higher infection rate. All of this, because of the 'mandates' of Obamacare, for hospitals.

The higher echelons of the hospital structure, will always survive, that is a well known fact, in the medical field. The hospital by-laws, dictate that there are basic requirements or mandates by JCAH (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals), that rule the hospitals, which provide a set standards of care, that must be maintained by professionals, which is the higher echelon.

Bottom line, a 'vicious circle of no reform', that Obamacare says is 'reform'.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 3:54:03 AM

Senator-Blutarsky

Ron Paul is " the last train out " for a return to true Constitutional principles - end of discussion.

“Most men do not desire liberty; most only wish for a just master.”

Sallust (86-34BC)

Posted January 14, 2012 at 5:36:17 AM

Stephen Emmert

It appears that Mitt Romney has been promised the job and that the RNC wants him to be the nominee. However that does not bode well for the grassroots Republicans who know that Newt Gingrich has real solutions to the ails of America. He has the knowledge and experience to lead us and to set the progressives back 25 years or so. Remember this election is about saving America and restoring her to her former greatness. Defeating those who would take us down the road to Socialism and One World Government.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 7:46:57 AM

Keith Arnold

Mitt Romney WILL get the nomination. It's just a shame that Republican campaign donations are being used by other REPUBLICANS to bash him and fuel the Obama MEGA machine. Every dollar sourpuss Gingrich spends on "movies" is one less dollar Obama has to spend. So when Obama WINS- we have noone to blame but ourselves (and Newt- who goes on to write more books and raise his speaking fee 30%) Way to go!

Posted January 14, 2012 at 9:10:42 AM

Ann Carlson

Focus on BHO & what he has done to our country in three short years bring everything up in the debates, what he is doing to destroy this GREAT Nation. He is a Marxist/Muslim, he hates America & our Constitution, I doubt be knows anything about our Founding Fathers. We cannot afford to fight each other we have to fight the evil in our WH & government. Please GOD save our GREAT Nation.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 9:40:51 AM

Earl Seymour

Republicans lose again because they don't know that Obama is the real target not fellow republicans.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 10:12:47 AM

By indulging in the politics of distortion, deliberately exaggerating Bain's failures and attributing them all to Mr. Romney our candidates have coarsened the debate and demonstrated that their claims to ideological purity are bogus. Fact checking proves that many of the claims are tied to actions taken by Bain after Romney left the company, sometimes referencing actions taken by firms that bought companies from Bain, actions neither Bain nor Romney could have influenced. We have this kind of dishonest activity in Washington today. The Obama administration constantly distorts and twists facts for propaganda purposes. We the people deserve better service from our elected representatives and should demand a halt to dissemination of deceptive and dishonest campaign propaganda.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 10:40:42 AM

Mike R

As an RN for the past 35 years, I've seen what will happen with the advent of ObamaCare. More and more nurses and doctors are leaving an already overburdened profession and with ObamaCare causing still further increased burdens on staff, still more will flee. End result will be (and has already started) less care by less well trained staff and increased cost to those in the US who still work for a living. In a few more years the waiting times for routine non-emergent care will be months long and emergent care will be a nightmare.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 10:57:15 AM

Bill Tuten

I disapprove of these particular attacks. If the Republican Party is the pro-Capitalism party then these type of attacks make no sense coming from Republicans. All is fair in politics, but it is particularly nonsensical for Gingrich and Perry ( who cast themselves as conservative) to criticize Romney in this way.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 11:14:33 AM

Jim McElroy

This is "dirty politics" at it's dirtiest. It's hard for me to believe that Gingrich and Perry don't understand the basics of capitalism. I think they understand, they just believe that a lot of voters don't understand and they are probably correct.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 11:37:20 AM

Edwin Garvin

The comments are disgusting and will only help Obama in his bid for re-election.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 12:40:19 PM

Alan Franklin

It's the Mormonism that matters! Why is this the truth that dare not speak its name?

Just read the Mormon claptrap that Mitt Romney (and Glen Beck) believe and ask yourselves: should ANYBODY take these deluded men seriously?

What would you call someone who believes that Jesus was born in Jerusalem? That he is “the spirit brother” of Lucifer? That God has a wife and together they procreate children? That people live on the sun – not to mention the moon (the moon dwellers are tall and dress like Quakers). Well, you would call them Mormons. (All this is well researched and utterly factual by the way- we wrote a book about it called Cults and Isms: True or FALSE?)

Of course, Temple Mormonism, which Romney and Beck are undoubtedly participants in, teaches that when Temple Mormons die they will become rulers of their own planets, with numerous wives. So why even bother with running for president of the USA when you will get your own planet? That's a question I would like to see the news suppressing "press" ask at a press conference.

The serious thing about this rubbish is that Romney and Beck are two of the men millions of American Christians take seriously. Huntsman is another member of this magic-underwear wearing cult.

Despite this – and as an indication of how far America has sunk – Romney could easily replace the Obamanation as America’s next president. No doubt he could then set about preparing Missouri for the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.Yes, Mormons believe the Second Advent will take place in the mid-west.

Is someone with such profoundly idiotic, un-Christian fundamental believes truly someone who should be seriously considered as a potential president? Wake up, America!

Posted January 14, 2012 at 1:08:03 PM

Someone who knows

As a Soldier still serving I can relate firsthand how Obamacare will be the demise of the American Medical System. In the military we are not given any choices as to our healthcare or providers but must endure the hardships of long waits (3 weeks for routine visits) inconsistent care (a randomly assigned "Primary Care Manager" that doesn't follow you throughout your career nor can be consulted once a Soldier moves duty stations. This process means continuous "start at the beginning" approach when going back for follow up visits) 15 minute or less visits (that's all that are allowed due to the high number of people accessing free care) to mitigate a chronic issue. This approach consistently results in the "Don't repeat that activity for # weeks-take this pill-come back if it bothers you again" formula. Granted, healthcare is free but not by choice. Every Soldier is subject to the treatments that their PCM deems is in the best interest of the Government. This includes involuntary immunizations, mandatory testing, and frequent use of "experimental" techniques and procedures. Here's the kicker. I am in military medicine! I am a provider. So I know firsthand that this model will not work on the Nationwide scale. It will only result in the demise of a system that currently rewards hard work, diligence in study, close personal relationships with one provider or team, and dignity of the individual.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 1:18:07 PM

Jerome Lorenz

Pre-empting Obama is not going to inoculate any nominee from Obama's spending his money criticizing his opponent. Candidates efforts would be better spent examining Obama's policies and how theirs would differ!! The mendacious one does not need any help mischaracterising anyone......

Posted January 14, 2012 at 1:47:23 PM

John

I am of a mind that all that the attacks are accomplishing is pushing the so-called "independent" vote toward the idiot-in-cheif that unfortunately is occupying the White House today.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 2:20:42 PM

Sue

I agree that Romney needs to improve his communication to the public about the difference in what Bain did to improve profits and what Obama did, as an official of the USA Government, when the Federal took over private enterprise. It has been my contention all along that Republicans are not getting their message out about all Obama is doing and has done and is not doing to wreck our economy.

It seems Republicans have no communication skills, at all, in conveying to our citizens their message. Republicans need to hire psychologists,communication experts, like Obama has, to get the conservative message out. I think Republicans candidates destroying other Republican candidates is despictable and is turning conservatives totally off to the candidate doing it. Also, it is destroying our chances to beat Obama. I have heard several people say "I was going to vote Republican but they are just as bad as the Democrats and Obama" I will not contribute one more dime to anyone or the party until one Republcian candidate quits destroying the other candidate. It is incomprehensible that they would be completely selfish in their trying to get elected as opposed to what is best to beat Obama and save our country.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 3:36:08 PM

jim

Gingrich's attack is a stupid attack by an angry, vindicative man. We now know why so many members of Congress hate him. I supported Gingrich financially. Once I saw his attack, which I view as an attack on Capitalism in general and one which these ignorant folk who have no clue about what this clown in the White House is doing to America will believe, I wrote Newt and told him I wanted my money back. Good luck on that one! LOL

The Tea Partiers, I am one, and other Conservatie leaders met in Texas and voted to support Santorum. He hasn't a chance in hell to beat Obama. The best approach now is to support Romney and make sure Conservatives control both the Senate and the House.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 3:38:02 PM

Larry

I grew up near that steel mill that they're picking on. Back in the 50's it was called Sheffield Steel, then Armco and Union Wire Rope and I forget what else. What drove that company out of business was not Bain, it was the steelworkers' union: wages, vacation time, work rules, etc. etc. made this a non-competitive and thus non-viable endeavor.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 3:53:04 PM

Mark

I really think it is too bad that Romney started the extremely negative campaigning, just as he did in the 2008 election. Once it gets started it quickly becomes irrational, just as his ads did against Gingrich. It's coming back to haunt all of them.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 3:57:02 PM

Larry

Posted January 14, 2012 at 4:02:18 PM

Phil Capo

The Republicans that attacked Romney on Bain must have a subconscious dislike for capitalism.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 5:12:20 PM

Dave Hall

I think the difficulty that Gingrich and Perry have in resisting the temptation to poison the race by criticizing Bain Capital shows a weakness of character on their part. This will help Obama as he tries to legitimize his same line of thinking, should Romney get the nomination.

Romney is too moderate for my taste, but character is an important issue for me, too. This makes Rick Santorum look all the stronger in my eyes, for not jumping on that train with them.

I think they should both bow out of the race and urge solid conservatives to unite behind Santorum. But that same lack of character stands in the way of that move, too.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 5:46:19 PM

Norm

I'm still of the mind the current Iranian leadership is crazy but he/they do NOT represent the majority of the populace of Iran. The government and the current leadership within the government are sly, willingly employ lies, spies and deceit all of which are and have been the hallmarks of eastern warfare for centuries.

Still... the better corrective action course is to actively assist the internal groups against the current regime versus engaging in all-out warfare and killing many of those Iranians who would side with us along with the extremists. Too much ado over too little, IMHO.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 6:06:25 PM

Dan

All the GOP attacks ON Romney are well founded. He is clearly not presidential quality!

Posted January 14, 2012 at 6:19:17 PM

Sherry

I wish someone would check to see if these posts are coming from some place like HuffPo or moveon.org or if they are coming from a Libertarian site somewhere. It is very frustrating to be facing the very real enemy of ignorance and to have this kind of nonsense assault prevent any actual progress toward resolutions.

Ron Paulies: If this is you, please stop trying to bombard the uninformed with never ending comments that will not be read.

Patriotpost: Please check to see where these comments originate. Ron Paulies do not treat people this way on their own sites. If these are not Ron Paulies, then who are they? Ron Paul is a dangerous threat to Obama because he has the integrity, the plan and the message that is needed to turn this nation around. Obama has a large war chest of cyber nerds apart from Huffpo and moveon.org -- please find the source of these phantom posts and get them blocked so real people can begin to get involved.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 7:23:39 PM

Donna

Please don't malign rats by comparing them to OWS occupiers.

The little long-tailed creatures are quite clean, friendly as dogs and wonderful pets. Their outdoor cousins only hang out near garbage that humans don't clean up.

Humans carry and spread more disease than rats.

Posted January 14, 2012 at 8:23:30 PM

Dave Hall

Romney is too moderate for my taste, but character is an important issue for me, too. This makes Rick Santorum look all the stronger in my eyes, for not jumping on that train with them.

I think they should both bow out of the race and urge solid conservatives to unite behind Santorum. But that same lack of character stands in the way of that move, too.

Posted January 15, 2012 at 12:19:52 AM

Martha Ramer

I'm a senior citizen that has a few medical issues. I have a GP and 3 specialist doctors that I visit pretty regularly. Two of the 4 doctors have told me that if Obamacare isn't over turned or repealed by the new(?) President, they will be closing their practices. One of my specialists has told me that he thinks about 35-40% of doctors may be considering the same thing. Besides the inplimenting of computer systems replacing people, this is but another way jobs will be effected. Along with each doctor is a staff of nurses, insurance processors, receptionists and others that will be unemployed. There is nothing but negative outcomes with the implimentation of Obamacare.

God Bless America and the Patriot Post!

Posted January 15, 2012 at 4:38:16 AM

S. L. Willson

Looks like "Occupy Wall Street" has occupied the Gingrich campaign.

Posted January 15, 2012 at 9:03:10 AM

John LeHew, Sr.

I think it is a grave mistake for these candidates to be "vetting" one another. They should all be showing how their candidacy would produce a superior improvement over Obama. The goal must be to stop Obama, and to make sure that he is not re-elected. To be attacking one another the way they are has been the cause of amazement in the liberal press (see the Ocala Star Banner, January 12, 2012).

Posted January 15, 2012 at 8:49:10 PM

John LeHew, Sr.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 8:30:31 AM

elmer weissburg

Obama committed perjury upon taking the oath of office to support and defend the Constitution. His own writings and all of his acts while in office are directed at overthrowing it. Universal medicare's sole purpose is to obtain the whole record of every person; Hillary and Barack have no training in medicine. Our medicine was the world's best until they took it over. The cost is market driven; their program is for political power. Next they will demand psychiatric records, and then confessional data. Universal slavery in the nanny state is the ultimate objective. The cold war is not over, and none dare even mention that fact in these debates. God Save the Republic.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 10:25:27 AM

david jones

I think the attacks on Romney by other republicans are stupid and self serving by those with a very narrow agenda which more than likley will not be achieved in their life tiume. These attacks may not only splinter the party further but but will likely lead to the defeat of any moderate republican candidate and the reelection of Barry. I cannot understand why any Republican would not want to defeat Barry. To do so all republicans must unite and then we must convince a majority of independent voters and the 'soft' democrats to join in our efforts.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 10:26:21 AM

Robert

Attacks are just that,viscous attemps to do harm.Politics has never been civil nor is it likely it ever will be. However supposedly they are all on the same team(GOP)so half truths ,lies and slander are fuel for the real opponents(Dems)fire. It's bad enough that the liberal media has already chosen the GOP contender for you and he is basically a liberal also (Mitt Romney)socialist lite. I seen from the comments on your recent question of what characteristics a president should have, many thought as I do and chose Ron Paul but the media and GOP would never allow a Constitutional leader to get in the white house.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 11:50:42 AM

garnet

The individuals that are trying to downgrade another GOP candidate are showing their true colors and how they would run the Presidency if they were elected. By that I mean "it's my way or the highway" for anyone who may disagree with them. If you don't have something positive to say about an individual and how they have preformed in the past, just keep your mouth shut because the statements you make that are negative are showing how you will work with other people in the future. Harry Reid and Nancy Polosi are prime examples.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 11:57:55 AM

Rob

Obamacare will destroy jobs.Dr's.will reduce or stop practicing,jobs with good health benifits will sign on for the government offer to the detriment of their employees and health care.Governments take over of 1/6th of the economy in addition to the huge chunk they already(poorly)control will mean obamas legacy will be just as he HOPEd for CHANGE for the worse and the destruction of the greatest economy and once upon a time the freest in the known universe the USA.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 12:00:38 PM

John Galt

The attacks on every candidate seem to miss the target every time. A sort of, Ready, Fire! Aim ... repeat offend (him or her).

As to the Bain Capital aspersions ... the people who owned those companies, which were re-organized or re-distributed, were already on track to implode. The owners took their money ... and ran. They threw the employees over the fence and never looked back. Get over it - and stop sniveling and pointing fingers at Romney. He was successful as a businessman. And every swinging Richard who could have been in his shoes would not hesitate.

As for Romney the politician: I lived under his government rule in the State of Taxachusetts. His improvements to the case of Constitutional Conservatism, Liberty and Freedom resisting the encroachment of statism and groupthink ... was negligible, ineffective, and easily deleted by progressive socialist persistance. I left the State. I won't be voting for Romney, and I won't be voting for dems. But I will be voting so as not to throw a vote away. I hope that, voting, it may still count for something.

Want a wake up call? Watch 'Atlas Shrugged' part I. The scenario is already in play in our society.

Get used to it, and get used to standing in line. Do that, or stop the pathetic sniffling and get behind someone who will call the hard shots.

Listen to your own tough, conservative beating heart. If you cannot find it - perhaps you are already dead.

John Galt

Posted January 16, 2012 at 1:33:26 PM

JEEP

HEY KNUCKLE HEADS...

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ATTACK SOMEONE...HOW ABOUT YOU ATTACK THAT IGNORANT, ARROGANT, INCOMPETENT, HYPOCRITICAL, CROOKED & HIGHLY UNQUALIFIDE SHILL THAT HAS SET HIS USELESS BACKSIDE IN OUR WHITE HOUSE???

STOP TAKING SHOTS AT ONE ANOTHER AND START AIMING YOUR BARBS AT THE MAIN PERSON THAT THE MAJORITY OF TRUE, TRADITIONAL AMERICANS DISPISE WITH A PASSION!

OBAMA! EVERYTIME YOU GUY'S HURT YOU REPUBLICAN COUNTER PARTS, OBAMA WETS HIS PANTS IN ANTISIPATION OF ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. THIS NATION WILL NOT SURVIVE ANOTHER FOURS OF THAT KIND OF BULLSH..!!!

WAKE UP AND GO AFTER OBAMA BIG TIME!!!

J.J.B.JR.(USN.RET.)

MARYLAND.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 8:54:50 PM

-Jeep-

KILL EM' ALL &

LET GOD (if he's still listening) SORT EM'OUT!"

J.J.B.Jr.(USN.RET.)

Maryland.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 9:02:42 PM

Carol Miles

Faction means freedom and freedom means faction. Different opinions, disagreements, childish behavior is part of the process. Not one of these candidates are perfect, everyone of them will make mistakes when they become the president. But, among the whole bunch of them, there is none that hates America. Choose the one that will beat Obama.

Remember it is Obama that wants to make us equal in every way by taking from those that work and giving to those who don't. He cares nothing for individual rights or freedoms. He would have us all follow his dictates. If he gets in four more years, he will take us down. His mainstream media is a perfect example of the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests. Four more years of Obama all the media will sound the same. The Bill or Rights will be a bill of wrongs.

Though it seems as if it will go on forever even this campaign will finally end. Will we have four more years of Obama or four years of the Republican candidate? (And a third party candidate will ensure that Obama wins.) If Obama we may never get to have another election, if the Republican candidate we can choose someone better next time. Save our Republic and vote against Obama.

Posted January 16, 2012 at 10:28:29 PM

holysoldier423

Romney is a crazy cult member from the pit of hell. anything and everything about him is evil. so I say please, will someone stand up already, and say that Romney is at the very least nuts, for following a false God. who cares about business when you are considering handing over the party to a lying blasphemer. Mormons have a doctrine and prophecy that says America will become a Mormon theocracy. wake up people before its to late and God turns His hand of favor away for good. I for one will never vote for this heretic and I hope no other Christian will. how can two walk together unless they agree. what does the Devil and Jesus have to do with each other, or light and dark, evil or good. choose this day who you will serve. do right and risk the consequences. trust the One True Living God and not man. for every man (and woman; in case that offends you)will give an account to God one day. if you don't believe that you don't belong in the Republican party. see ya Ron

Posted January 17, 2012 at 12:31:09 AM

Lloyd Taylor

The GOP candidates need to keep their collective eyes on the ball. Defeating the President should be their singular goal, not attacking each other (last night's debate is a case in point). Republican voters are smart enough to make informed decisions without their party leaders providing sound bites and future ad material to Democrats.

Posted January 17, 2012 at 7:57:41 AM

Steve Egbert

When I was a boy, my father said told me that a man does what he must do, not what he wants to do. It's not fair, but that's just the way it is. In a broader sense, Dad was telling me that duty trumps all else. Doing the right thing is more important than winning a game, or making money, or becoming the President of the United States. To see the field of prospective Republican nominees calling each other names in a vain attempt to win an election (which should be a slam-dunk for the Republican nominee) makes me cringe. I see no sense of leadership or discipline from any of the candidates (or the RNC) or any sense of what the mission is, which is to defeat not just Barack Obama, but all of the Democrats, and win back both houses of Congress. With the very survival of the nation at stake, the example being set by this bunch of overgrown adolescents who act like they're trying to win a junior high student council election utterly disgusts me. Other than Rick Santorum, I don't want any of these clowns to be my president. Leadership by example is an important part of being the boss and the example being set by this crew is abysmal.

Posted January 17, 2012 at 2:29:37 PM

Marty

The Republicans forcing Romney off on the conervatives of this country, is proof they are running scared, still trying to be like the left instead of themselves, still hiding in the closet when the left winged press is listening, this is why no matter who wins the next election, America loses. Next year I will be Independent. I will never vote for Romney, his primary victories just loses my vote for sure. The country sells out, it will not be on my head.

Posted January 18, 2012 at 11:43:29 AM

Shaeri

Oh, for goodness sake, Romney's "PAC" started the dirty attacks. Romney refused to call them off and told Gingrich to "take the heat". Meaning -- get out of the race. Now you want to blame Gingrich?

Posted January 18, 2012 at 2:46:10 PM

Meg

I do not like the attacks on Romney. I think they are misguided and unnecessary and have actually made him look like a true gentleman and have made ME decide to vote for him.

Posted January 18, 2012 at 8:22:56 PM

Roy

Obama-Care will increase unemployment by causing businesses to close, because they cannot afford Obama-Care and other operating costs that it takes to stay in business.

Posted January 19, 2012 at 8:50:43 AM

Patriot Headline Report

The Right Opinion

More Opinion

Grassroots Commentary

More Commentary

Policy and Analysis

Our Mission

To Support and Defend -- Read The Patriot Post -- It's Right. It's Free. -- www.patriotpost.us

"The Patriot's mission is to advocate for Essential Liberty, the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and to promote free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values. Our objective is to provide Patriots across our nation with a touchstone of First Principles through brief, informative and entertaining analyses of relevant news, policy and opinion from reputable research, advocacy and media organizations, so they may better support and defend those Principles, and enlist others to join our ranks." —Mark Alexander, Publisher

The Patriot Post is not sustained by any political, special interest or parent organization, and we accept no advertising. Our mission and operations are funded entirely by the voluntary financial support of Patriots like you!

Support The 2012 Patriot Fund

Name	(required, displayed)
Email	(required, not displayed)
Comments

Navigation

Options

Digest

The Foundation

Government & Politics

Romney's Bain

Quote of the Week

On Cross-Examination

News From the Swamp: Debt Increase Submitted

From the Left: White House Staff and Fundraisers

Around the Nation: Texas Holder 'Em

This Week's 'Braying Jenny' Award

Economy

Hope 'n' Change: The Medical ATM?

Regulatory Commissars: Restricting Uranium Mining and Other Nonsense

Income Redistribution: A Subsidy for the 1 Percent

Spinning the TARP

Security

Warfront With Jihadistan: Jihadi Plot Thwarted in Florida

Iran: Marine Sentenced, Scientist Killed and U.S. Carriers Deployed

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Lt. Nick Vogt

Culture

Judicial Benchmarks: A Win for Religious Liberty

Village Academic Curriculum: DC Teachers' Pay Raise Far Outstrips Inflation

And Last...

Options

Comments

Navigation

Patriot Headline Report

The Right Opinion

Navigation

Grassroots Commentary

Policy and Analysis

Our Mission

Navigation

Options

Digest

The Foundation

Government & Politics

Romney's Bain

Quote of the Week

On Cross-Examination

News From the Swamp: Debt Increase Submitted

From the Left: White House Staff and Fundraisers

Around the Nation: Texas Holder 'Em

This Week's 'Braying Jenny' Award

Economy

Hope 'n' Change: The Medical ATM?

Regulatory Commissars: Restricting Uranium Mining and Other Nonsense

Income Redistribution: A Subsidy for the 1 Percent

Spinning the TARP

Security

Warfront With Jihadistan: Jihadi Plot Thwarted in Florida

Iran: Marine Sentenced, Scientist Killed and U.S. Carriers Deployed

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Lt. Nick Vogt

Culture

Judicial Benchmarks: A Win for Religious Liberty

Village Academic Curriculum: DC Teachers' Pay Raise Far Outstrips Inflation

And Last...

Options

Comments

Navigation

Subscribe

Patriot Headline Report

The Right Opinion

Navigation

Grassroots Commentary

Policy and Analysis

Our Mission