It’s an interesting analysis. But I wouldn’t paint the picture so dark for Republicans, nor that bright for Obama either.

The media and Republican elite have been pushing Romney figuring he’s the kind of “conservative” who won’t rock the boat too much. But the rank and file Tea Party distrust Romney’s conservatism and this is why he’s having trouble despite all the money he’s spending on negative ads to sink his opponents.

Conservatives are encouraged by the surge in popularity for Santorum. He doesn’t have the baggage of either Romney or Gingrich, so he’s viewed as more electable. Romney, because he started Romneycare in Massachusetts, the pre-cursor to Obamacare, doesn’t strike the contrast with Obama’s policies that a Santorum or Gingrich would.

But just as important is he will energize the Republican base to get out and vote.
If we had listened to the pollsters and the press, the race would have been finished already and Romney crowned the winner. In some senses, instincts are a better judge of what’s going to happen.

Dan Baker

I was searching for a good picture on the theme of Revenue Assurance using Google Image Search and found Newt\\\’s picture being posted. I was curious about the association till I clicked and found your site.

And I write this the day after Newt had his big victory in South Carolina.

I think you’re right to perceive that the only thing consistent about the candidates is that they consistently flip flop.

Newt probably hated to attack Mitt Romney on his Bain Capital experience. But he figured the end justified the means because Romney’s proxies attacked Gingrich in a very personal way in an ad campaign during the New Hampshire battle. It was payback time, and this time the tactic succeeded.

I believe libertarianism is a powerful political philosophy — less government intrusion and self-reliance. People who oppose Ron Paul say his newsletter supported some fairly racist columns written by somebody else 20 years when he was a publisher. I have not investigated that, but I find it curious that this \\"racist stain\\" is the only thing opponents are harping on.

People forget the racism that occurred when Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court 20 years ago. So there\\\’s a lot of distasteful guilt by accusation that goes on in American politics. Herman Cain got treated the same way, although the personal attack made it easier for him to bail out when his ignorance of Libya exposed his foreign affairs weakness.

So those are three and a half thoughts. . . .