Me too. Call it a miracle, but eventually my sight was restored.

Because in uncontrollable situations, like an audience-fueled debate, Mittens doesn't do as well compared to Newt. I wonder who breaks on that issue?

Anyway, if Mittens hoped the Tax issue died with his '10 returns released...I don't know. From Reuters:



Mysterious Swiss Bank? Closed to avoid "embarrasment"? Oh man this story just got better.

But regardless, the tax issue has already done% it's damage to Mittens. Month ago, he was the only GOP candidate with positive favorables. Not anymore. ABC/Washington Post poll:



http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1127a14FavorabilityNo14.pdf

It is ironic. Gingrich is a better channel of the white hot hatred that the Republican base has for the President. No doubt.

But Gingrich is not on the ballot on all 50 states and if by some miracle he did get the nomination I think he would turn off independents more than Romney.

It's a pickle; I am enjoying watching it.

I know several liberals who think Newt obviously is the more favorable opponent, but they're worried about what if he somehow wins?

In gambling, you always accept risks. Sometimes a prize is so big, you're willing to accept a certain amount of real danger because the payoff is worth the chance.

If there was a choice, the White House would without hesitation roll the dice and go with the self-proclaimed champion of Family Values, where he uses his daughters from his first marriage to attack his second wife, whom he was cheating on with his third wife.

Personally, a Newt nomination (and theoretically fall crash & burn) is what the party needs more than a Mittens nomination. If Mittens loses in November, the right-wing culture/media will argue once again like they did 4 years ago w/ McCain that they lost because their candidate wasn't conservative enough.

If Newt, truely an unashamed, unpolished symbol of the party base at heart, goes down...then the party would be forced to reassess itself for the future.

Do we keep ignoring the demographic trends and start seriously going after the Hispanic vote with measures in modest degrees favorable to them? The country is turning pro-gay rights, how can we avoid getting crushed by that growing momentum of a public concensus wave? If Obamacare or HCR of whatever kind becomes permanent and no longer at stake at the ballot, do we move from hating this socialism and turn to being constructively critical?

Anyway, SOTUS tonight. I predict with zero doubt that Obama will point out Warren Buffett's secretary at the balcony, and ask why she pays less federal tax rate % than her boss (or Mitt romney.)

Better panderer: Mittens or Obama tonight?

Found at a message board. Where are Mythbusters when you need them?

Yeah, I got that feeling too, Ronnie. I was hoping that President Obama wouldn't turn the State of the Union Address into a campaign speech, but I guess that was naive of me. I mean, show me a President in his fourth year who hasn't done the exact same thing.

The righty bloggers are already starting with their class warfare bullshit. No one is begrudging anyone their money, but everyone should pay at least the same percentage in taxes. What's right is right. I don't want to sound like a dick, but my wife and I have been pretty fortunate. Although we're not "one percenters," we do enjoy some disposable income. And I think it's only fair that we pay the same tax rate as people who are making less money.

I listened to Ann Coulter yesaterday on Michael Medved's show. She stated that this presidential election is the most critical one in our lifetimes. How many times have I heard that? What presidential election during our lifetimes has not been the most critical? By the way, I wonder when she's going to have that adam's apple reduction surgery.

I thought the 2004 election was the most critical since we couldn't change leadership while fighting a war. That was after the most critical 2000 election where it was important to have a changing of the guard from the morally lacking Clinton years. What about 2008, when it was the most critical one due to the financial meltdown that was taking place.

The only reason this one is the most critical election to her is to pave the way for her newest book and her radio show.

Yea, I remember the "You can't change Presidents during a war." That worked out well didn't it?

Back to the election, I hear rumblings on news shows that the Republicans could STILL (after Fla) have someone new enter the race. I thought there were deadlines to do so AND wouldn't this person who entered late be at a disadvantage? BTW, can you believe a name I keep hearing is Jeb Bush? Although, I get a sense that Jeb is the smarter one, can you imagine a third Bush?

TIS

TIS, late entrants are possible. However, each state has a procedure with dealines to have one's name placed on a primary ballot. So, for all practical purposes those deadlines have passed or will pass shortly. Still, there are many unpledged delegates who could rally around a candidate during the convention.

Rally around a totally NEW candidate?


TIS

A late entrant.

I probably shouldn't admit this, but when you say Jeb is the smart one the vision I keep seeing is from the Newhart Show, with Larry (the smart one) introducing himself and his brothers. "Hi, I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl and my other brother, Darryl."

olivant is right about the filing deadlines. It does make sense for someone to pop up now, if only work in forcing a brokered convention. But who man, imagine if that did come true and you have Mittens/Newt/Mystery Candidate duking out for that tab, while Ron Paul could turn heel and burn his party for an independent bid, or try to influence the convention outcome.

But I'll say this right now: Jeb Bush aint that white knight. His name alone is toxic. Notice how his brother's name doesn't seem to pop up all that much at the debates, nobody really trying to tie themselves to that brand-name. (Exception was Newt defending his Tax Cuts, but that's it recently I'm aware of to my knowledge.)

I might suggest Mitch Daniels, but he's waiting for '16. Christie has burned the national GOP bridge (for now) for nominating a gay black judge to the NJ Supreme Court, Rubio don't want to piss away his #1 contender status as the running mate pick. Jindal? Maybe.

I know! Donald Trump.



She's right actually. '12 is the most critical election of our lifetime. Until the next one four years later.

Poor Anne. Someday somebody will raise the necessary money to give her that surgery she desperately needs.

~Who knew permanent wired jaws are so pricey?

I understood the point, a Clintonian strategic speech in pandering to the middle class in perks and values. Also gave specific proposals for down the ticket local/state Democrats to run on and bludgeon the GOP Congress.

If anything, the speech came off as a moderate Republican address. You know if anybody in the GOP was sane. I did think however the high school segment was just retarded in general, but others have pointed out why that's stupid already, so let's move on from that handjob.

But all that said, if this was a shameless handjob, it worked apparently rather well.



From a 50 person focus group of self-described "swing voters":



http://www.democracycorps.com/strategy/2...s-message/#ftn1

I thought this was funny





TIS

Mitt Romney:



If that new gaffe wasn't bad enough, then The Boss talks...

Rupert Murdoch: 'Romney's Tax Returns Might Kill His Chances'

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/4709

Ha ha ha ha! Mitt actually said that?





TIS

I hope Pelosi wasn't just mouthing off. Her remarks reminded me that Gloria Allred claimed to have witnesses to Herman Cain's sexual harrassment, but they were never revealed.

A woman attending a Santorum event in Florida wanted to know why President Obama was still allowed to remain in office since he wasn't "legally" the President, ignores the Constitution and is an "avowed Muslim". Santorum, good Christian that he is, simply said that he was doing the best he could to get President Obama out of office, ignoring the mud she was slinging.

When asked why he didn't correct the woman, Santorum told reporters it wasn't his responsibility to correct every statement he disagreed with. Of course it's not. That might take balls.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/201...bamas-religion/

Awesome speech last night by Obama. Hard to disagree with most of what he said unless you have a personal grudge against the man, but unfortunately the majority who control the House do have that grudge. :-/

Obama 2012

That is funny. I talked to my mom 2nite (who doesn't follow politics at all or even vote) and I just said I hope Obama gets re-elected. She told me not worry because no one likes Mitt or Newt.

Bush gave more food stamps out.
( This is a stat, not a joke.)

Anyone think Newt will bring this gaffe up tonight at the debate?



http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/46078839#null

By JIM VANDEHEI and MIKE ALLEN | 1/26/12 8:00 AM EST Updated: 1/26/12 8:45 AM EST

Newt Gingrich better hope voters who lapped up his delicious hits on the “elite media” and liberals don’t read the Drudge Report this morning. Or the National Review. Or the American Spectator. Or Ann Coulter.

If they do, Gingrich comes off looking like a dangerous, anti-Reagan, Clintonian fraud

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72000.html#ixzz1ka7vk0o4

I like newt, Romney is too phony, he needs to go get a shinebox and shine some shoes in front of people

Now Mittens says his tax rate is actually "closer" to 45-50%.* Willard, buddy, I think you....being yourself has already cemented your original 15% claim to the public.

In other news, he's outspending Newt 3 to 1 in Florida.

*=Well 15% is closer to 45% than 13.9%, so maybe he was telling the truth, or a variation of it, in the first place.

In addition, several high profile Republicans are attacking Gingrich including Bob Dole.