How do you not see this?

Santorum has made as the centerpiece of his case (against Romney), that Mitt is "uniquely unqualified" (Rick's his words, oft repeated) to be our nominee because it takes Obamacare off the table (theoretically). Again, this is a chief argument in the Santorum primary campaign. To turn around and pick Romney would be to immediately discredit himself as the honest, forthright, "true" conservative.

And Romney's too cute by half (in my opinion) defense of Romneycare has consistently focused around "well, that was what the state wanted, its' a sate right, I wouldn't do it on a federal level." I don't buy that for a second - on Meet the Press in 2009, in the middle of the Obamacare debate no less, he advocated the individual mandate. 51% of GOP primary voters IN Massachusetts, in exit polls, said Romney care went too far. Romney's response to this was they went too far, in essence perverted it, after he left. Well hells bells Mitt, did you think you were emperor? That your word, your intention would last as long as the program? That is simply an insufficient answer in my eyes. Romney has proven over and over that he must be nudged into conservatism. In addition the man argued - in the Mass governors race - that he was NOT a conservative. Such a label would have cost him the race in that state. And his abortion stance has morphed, according to what race he's in, as well. And recently he took up the language of OWS noting that he "wont raise taxes on the 99%." And you can argue "well, he was running in Mass, of course he said that to get elected." What that argument is missing is if Santorum wins it will be PRECISELY because he effectively convinced primary voters that such a man can not be trusted to be a consistent conservative. And THAT is who he should turn around and put as #2 on his team? That doesn't make any sense to me.

The bottom line - IF (and it's a big if) Santorum wins it will be because GOP voters thought he was the authentic conservative in the race. That's the ground he's staked out, that's his calling card. If he turns around and picks Romney as VP it will immediately undo any legitimacy he would have gained. He would be, to invoke the tired old phrase, shooting himself in the foot. I don't care about Romney's ability to fund raise - Obama will raise the GOP all the money they could ever spend. You've simply misjudged half the dynamic here. For Nominee Romney to pick Santorum makes perfect sense (and Santorum can accept, promising to bring his influence into the administration). But f Santorum picks Romney it will will delegitimize the very reason he won.

There is a difference, you know...

Even for conservatives, there is a real difference between Obamacare and Romneycare that no one seems to take into consideration, in the past, now or in the foreseeable future:

Obamacare is a Federally mandated requirement, while Romney's plan was formed, implemented and operated at a strictly State level.  I, for one, don't have an issue with Romneycare at all... not one.  I can say that with clear conscience because I don't live in Mass.  When the same plan is implemented on a Federal level, though... I have issues.

If a State such as MA wants to require employers to maintain certain levels of insurance for all employees at no cost to the employee, and this proves to be too expensive for corporations and small businesses to float and still turn a profit, what happens?  They close their doors and go somewhere else where there are no such requirements.  That is no skin off my back, living where I do in PA.

To the best of my knowledge, Romney has never advocated support for such a plan on a national level.  In fact, he's dodged the issues to no end now because I'm not sure he hasn't seen the error of his ways just in how MA has moved since his plan went into effect... but that isn't something he's going to want to discuss now, is it?

That doesn't negate your point, though... and I'm not inclined to argue with you.  Still, in my opinion, should Santorum win and NOT choose Romney as a running mate, he is handicapping himself in a huge manner.

I agree... mostly

Romney's clear problem is his inability to win over conservatives. Romney-care hangs around his neck like an Albatross. His only logical choice is Santorum. However, I'm less sure that Santorum would pick Romney. There's certainly precedent - G.H. Bush was the "moderate" that lost to the vastly more conservative Reagan, and Reagan unified the party by picking his middle of the road rival. However, Bush didn't have Romnay-care, and I don't know that Santourum would want to immediately take the Obamacare chip off the table by making as his VP a man whom supported the individual mandate as recently as 2009 (on Meet The Press). Romney-care is a real problem, make no mistake.

That worry is second only to the following concern: Ron Paul could stay in this race until the convention and then walk into the Libertarian nomination. He would utterly destroy the GOP's presidential chances, so you might ask why he would do such a thing and guarantee an Obama victory? Keep in mind - Paul sees no real difference between Romney (assuming he wins) and Obama. The daylight is insignificant in his view. And as he's nearing retirement he may decide that this will be the way he goes out - teaching the GOP a lesson about the error of its' ways. There's only three ways the GOP guarantees this does not happen. One is Rand Paul. They can promise to destroy his son's very promising career. Two is also Rand Paul - make Rand the VP choice (which would please the likes of me). Or (and this is the option I would prefer, regardless of who wins), they can promise Ron the Secretary of Treasury gig. This way he gets a crack at his long time nemesis - the Federal Reserve. That he I doubt he could resist.

Post-Super Tuesday

Romney vs Santorum.  That's the contest in '12 for the GOP nomination.

Gingrich is out.  He's won only two States (GA and SC), and Paul seems to be nothing more than a vote cast to say "I don't think Romney or Santorum are conservative enough".  That in itself is scary...  Paul took more than 40% of Virginia's GOP vote, and he was the ONLY other candidate on the ballot besides Romney.  What does THAT say about how Virginia conservatives feel about Romney?

Santorum has done very well in the Midwest, but can't seem to win strong on either Coast.  His only real chance now is a HUGE showing in the remaining Southern States, and possibly CA... but Catholics never do well in CA.

I'll say this, though... if either Romney or Santorum win and DON'T pick the other as a running mate, the GOP cannot win the '12 general election.  It is the only hope right now of getting the unaffiliated voter in Anytown USA to vote against the status quo.  Put it in the books, that's my big prediction and I'm sticking with it.

The participation trophy generation

Limbaugh's comments weren't helpful, but quite frankly I feel Fluke should apologize to me and anyone with an IQ over 60 for that matter. Did you watch this? Her testimony was the most absurd argument, built upon the most the most absurd premise, I have ever listened to. Crying how utterly disenfranchised law students at Georgetown -45k a year - University are because they cant get birth control for free. You know what's free? Abstinence. Condoms. Pulling out. Becoming a Lesbian. Or how about getting your boyfriend to kick in the dough? Yes the poor, oppressed, under privileged students of Georgetown Law are suffering through the indignity of not having birth control covered by insurance via a government mandate - the horror! As Fluke said, "She sees how this effects real people in the faces of women on campus." Oh shut your pie hole Yoko.

By her own admission she's there on a "public assistance scholarship." Listen doll, pumpkin, cupcake, can I run something by you? I'm already paying for your God D---- tuition, so how's about you put in that Wendy's application, buy your own screw pills, and send me a thank you note at Thanksgiving? How's about that, huh?

She was trotted out there, script in hand, by Nancy Pelosi as part of this effort to keep the spectacle of contraception in the forefront thus avoiding ANY talk about the abysmal economic/energy record of this President. I am convinced that is why they went after the Catholic Church - they'd rather take their chances debating social issues (although the Church mandate is about conscience, not contraception) then get anywhere near talk on the economy or prices at the pump.

And thats my bigger problem with Rush's slut comments (which he has now apologized for), it gave the story more exposure, thus the other side more deflection material. But if we're talking whom made the more outrageous statement, Fluke has Limbaugh beat by a mile.

I'm curious...

Does anyone here think Rush Limbaugh's comments about Sandra Fluke and her testimony before Congress actually helped the conservative agenda?

I know he's the biggest radio celebrity ever... and that his comments are about getting people to tune in every bit as much as they are to give his views and opinions... but whenever he has addressed or commented on his words, he says he is defending the "conservative viewpoint" and making the "conservative case" to America.

If THAT were actually his goal, then perhaps he'd better leave the job to those that aren't going to make the liberals in this nation look calm, cool and rational while the conservatives look like rabid misogynistic hate-mongers.  I, for one, don't think he's helping anyone... anyone but himself, that is.

This guy gets it...

This CBS article really comes close to making the point I have been trying to make for several months now:  Santorum is too inflexible and prone to talk off-topic, and Romney is too un-centered and ready to say whatever he thinks his current audience wants to hear.

We aren't going to find a "Rick Romney" or a "Mitt Santorum" in time for the RNC nomination, but is there a possibility that the two together could take the White House in 2012?  A one-two ticket that has the best of both worlds?

Looking at the two as a matched ticket, the only thing history tells us is lacking is that neither are from the South.  Both have big Midwestern appeal, Romney has proven executive experience, both are "conservative enough" to not lose the Tea Party vote (which McCain proved was very important), Rick has the possibility of the Catholic vote while neither really loses the chance of an evangelical support surge.  It's a shame neither served in the military, but I think any serving member or any rational veteran would see the ticket as the best option available.

Am I crazy for thinking this is the only option left for the GOP in '12?