Why, oh why, do we continue to listen to the mainstream media, and the big govt establishment statist types that want Romney? I have talked to dozens of solid conservatives that have completely bought into the "electability" crap.

Santorum is a solid conservative, and is being thoroughly ignored. If he wins another primary, the Romney attack machine and the MSM will go after him as well.

Gingrich is a solid conservative, who, as you say, relishes the joy of political combat, and doesn't back down to wimpy pressure. He's a little too "Beltway" for me, but I'd vote for him.

Romney has a he11 of a lot of money behind him, and a solid organization, which I hope would shift and support either of the other two if he doesn't win the nomination. But I doubt it. He is a power hungry opportunist, who saw where the winds were blowing and jumped on board.

Romney is the one who conservatives should be ignoring, not treating as the mini-anointed one.

The way I look at the various candidates. Paul is a Conservative - Libertarian, Santorum is a RINO, Gingrich is a Liberal, Romney is a Socialist, Barry (or what ever the hell his real name is) is a communist. If you doubt this look at their positions on the issues and their actions while in office. And of course look at where they stand on the Constitution.

Michael, at 58 I am old enough to remember what LBJ and Carter did, some of which are the biggest disasters ever brought upon the American people. I am also old enough to remember that Newt was a huge champion of and a great aid in your father's attempts to undue the damage wrought by the dingbats in Congress. I agree with everything you wrote here. The Republicans are making a huge mistake attempting to get Mitt as "our man". He appears to be the Republican mirror image of Oblahblah. Whenever he smirks, which is often, I cringe.

Here is another opinion regarding Mr. Gingrich, written by Tony Blankley shortly before he died this month:

http://patriotpost.us/opinion/tony-blankley/2011/12/14/newts-past-and-future-leadership/

Those of you who are willing to take another look at Newt should read this, and if this has any sway with you, let's try to get Newt into the White House.

I support Newt's candidacy financially as well.

Jim

Here is another opinion regarding Mr. Gingrich, written by Tony Blankley shortly before he died this month:

http://patriotpost.us/opinion/tony-blankley/2011/12/14/newts-past-and-future-leadership/

Those of you who are willing to take another look at Newt should read this, and if this has any sway with you, let's try to get Newt into the White House.

I support Newt's candidacy financially as well.

Jim

@ Jim-

I'm guilty of listening to the talking points and not doing any research in regards to Newt.

Of course I'm not used to republicans trashing republicans either.

I'm back.

Romneymccain was really depressing me.

Sorry, y'all, but I wouldn't trust Newt Gingrich as far as I could throw him.

"They seem to forget -- or simply ignore -- my dad's 11th Commandment, that Republicans must refrain from publicly speaking ill of one another. After all, the other party sufficiently fulfills that function without any help from Republicans."

Ha! Tell that to Newt! Paul Ryan stuck his neck out to take on the debt, the tax code and entitlement programs in his budget plan. Of course the left had a field day accusing him of wanting to "gut Medicare", and "give tax breaks to the wealthy"-- all the usual such nonsense. But what did Newt Gingrich do? Stand by a fellow conservative? Nope, he stabbed him in the back like a typical, appeasing, compromising, SLIMY, coward polititian. And for what? A 15-second sound bite?

"Look, I know that Newt has rubbed a lot of his fellow Republicans the wrong way, but that is the inevitable result when a leader does his job. He simply can't satisfy everybody..."

Of course you can't. Not even Ronald Reagan could "satisfy everybody". Yet, his character and leadership were rock solid; his dedication to conservative principles unwavering. No candidate is perfect (not even your wonderful father!)--but about all anybody can say for Newt is that "he's a fighter", or "he's not afraid of the Main Stream Media". So what? That qualifies him to be president?! What about integrity? Character? Leadership?

"Real Republicans need fighters, not mealy-mouthed compromisers who shrink away from any form of combat."

No doubt! I could not agree more with that statement. However, we need fight for the right reasons. Heck, L.A. gang members are "fighters". When "Newt fights", I can't help but feel that he is fighting not so much for conservative principles as he is fighting for... Newt.

By the way, while Newt Gingrich is basking in the spotlight, "relishing the joy of combat", Paul Ryan is quietly doing his job... fighting the good fight with courage and integrity.

I am willing to bet that Gingrich could easily beat Obama, but he will not be nominated. Romney will probably be nominated, but he very well may not beat Obama. He will make a lousy, wishy-washy president if he IS elected.

Oh, ye of little faith! I am sick of the Newt trashing - we live in a multi-marriage world, and cannot pretend to know what went on behind closed doors. Remember that Reagan was also married more than once - but I am sick and tired of the comments by the talking heads who are creating the defeat of the right before our very eyes, and that goes for "fair and imbalanced" Fox News as well. I love Santorum, too, and was wondering why he hadn't caught fire, then figured it out: he has too little history to probably be elected this go round. Republicans like to elect men of substance with long resumes. So - the situation being what it is, let's turn off the tube, roll up our sleeves and get going. And tell the RINOS and old moderates who have spent their careers compromising our freedoms away to shut up. Romney is buying a lot of his effort here, so Newt will need elbow grease from us and the smarts of our collective brains to help him in every state. We cannot afford to elect a neophyte this time; we need someone who has been around Washington long enough to know where the skeletons are buried and can produce the leverage to get things done for the people. It's been a long time since we had that kind of resident at 1600 Pensylvania Avenue!

India - You need to go back and read Newt's statement. Your only regergitating the MSM interpratation of what he said. He was talking about, if it's wrong to force a left wing agenda on the people, it's just as wrong to force a right wing agenda on us. He called for the Ryan plan to be discussed with the public before being inacted. Additionally, concering the negative politicing, Romney buried Newt in Iowa while Newt took the high ground and kept it positive. However, he lost because negative politicing works. So, what was he to do?

JM - Agree 100%