Oatmeal Later

Rick Santorum strides forward as the latest Non-Romney Non-Newt:

His candidacy all but dismissed just days ago, Rick Santorum won the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and a nonbinding primary in Missouri on Tuesday, an unexpected trifecta that raised fresh questions about Mitt Romney’s ability to corral conservative support.

Mitt Romney is the bowl of cold oatmeal placed in front of the Republican electorate.  They know it's the sort of breakfast of which their doctor might approve, but they are in no hurry to dig in.  The good news?  That oatmeal isn't getting any colder.

With his triumphs, Mr. Santorum was also suddenly presenting new competition to Newt Gingrich as the chief alternative to Mr. Romney, the front-runner. Where Mr. Gingrich has won one state, South Carolina, Mr. Santorum has now won four, including Iowa.

Newt was supposed to show his grass-roots support by winning these caucus states.  Oops.

Apparently Romney is now turning his (metaphorical) guns toward Santorum.  That may (or may not!) reduce the likelihood of an eventual Romney-Santorum ticket.

Comments

[Melinda Romanoff]

Romney risks losing his "high moral ground" like Humpty-Dumpty did.

[Clarice]

Romney should stuff a plug in his guns and start talking sense if he hopes to win. Enough with that shameless and lying gunslinging.

And FIRE those juvenile assholes on his campaign bus.

[Not Sara]

EXACTLY!! Clarice.

[Bob Kranowitz]

If Mitt's competition can't take a little mud slinging now, just wait until Obama's crew gets a hold of them.

[Rick Ballard]

"The good news? That oatmeal isn't getting any colder."

True. That greyish green hairy stuff growing on top isn't very appetizing though.

[Appalled]

I presume this is going to be come another thread where refusal to eat the oatmeal will be the paramount view of the day.

Just remember, when blasting Romney suopporters as trolls, that our generous and beloved host has implied support for Romney in his posts. (Note, that I do not say "enthusiastic" support for Romney. But his non-support for Newt and Cain was pretty evident throughout, and I have not seen any love for Santorum.)

Of course, when TM is compared to most of the gang leaving comments these days, he comes off as a bit of a RINO, suspect for his desire to continue living in Connecticut.

[MarkO]

Hell yes. More blood. It's really helped so far.

[Clarice]

Bob,are you any relation to Alan with whom I interned in DC with in the early '60's?

[centralcal]

True. That greyish green hairy stuff growing on top isn't very appetizing though.

I cannot say it any better than you did, Rick!

[Porchlight]

Here's my take: bashing GOP voters for not wanting to eat the cold oatmeal doesn't increase their desire to eat the cold oatmeal. Telling them that they are idiots and that it is not oatmeal and that it is not cold, doesn't increase their desire either.

If you can't manage to heat up the oatmeal and add some maple syrup & dried fruit, at least stop scolding people for not relishing the cold & flavorless mush that's being served up to them.

[centralcal]

Amen, Porchlight. I am tired of being told there is something wrong with me, rather than with the plate of cold, gray mush that is being served.

[Cecil Turner]

I presume this is going to be come another thread where refusal to eat the oatmeal will be the paramount view of the day.

I suspect the Romney supporters have a slight plurality in numbers on this forum, so protests of mistreatment are hard to credit. However, the rest of us probably outnumber the oatmeal eaters, if we could only find an acceptable vehicle. (Santorum? I guess I could . . . if I had to.)

[Cecil Turner]

Doesn't anybody know how to make waffles? Pancakes? Hell . . . Raisin Bran?

[Thomas Collins]

IHOP for pancakes for me, CT. Good prices. Pancakes come with eggs. Country omelette and pancakes gets me ready to rassle with the Twelfth Imam when he arrives.

[Extraneus]

In the one day I watched TV this year, Sunday, I saw three different commercials about how to get kids out of bed:

1. Waffles
2. Cinnamon buns
3. Bacon

Nothing on cold gruel.

[Thomas Collins]

I don't think Romney supporters are trolls, Appalled. I do think that, on the whole, posts on JOM in support of Romney tend to unduly deemphasize weaknesses of the Mittster.

[Thomas Collins]

I may not be a pancake maker. But my meat sauce for pasta recently had a woman other than my wife swooning (I won't elaborate, because the story becomes ho hum when told in its entirety).

[Captain Hate]

If somebody was writing a work of fiction and had a hypothetical party supporting a candidate who couldn't attack the incumbent's most vulnerable act because he was guilty of doing the same, not many people would read beyond that point.

[Extraneus]

I get one swooning every Sunday, TC.

We might have to have a Bobby Flay throw-down sometime. On the Island.

[daddy]

Ted Stevens Trial Update:

Judge orders March 15 release of Stevens prosecution report

Judge Emmet Sullivan finally gets his head out of his rectum and decides to release to the Public the report on Steven's corrupt Prosecutors that we taxpayers paid millions of dollars for.

"...two of the lawyers under investigation didn’t object to public release of the report. Two opposed the release and the other two asked for the report to be sealed permanently. His ruling blacked out which of the attorneys asked for the report to be kept from the public."

“While objecting generally to release of the report as unfair and prejudicial to the opposing attorneys’ privacy and reputational interests, those attorneys have not specified any compelling interest that would meet their high burden to justify keeping the Report under seal,” the judge wrote."

About time, and nice to see so many commenters at the ADN angry with the corrupt Prosecutors. I'd still like to know why Judge Sullivan gave crook Bill Allen special permission to see the entire report last month, while still deciding if he was going to keep the report from the Public.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

In the past 60 years has any "out" party fielded a candidate who has commanded overwhelming support among the party faithful? Perhaps Repubs with Goldwater in 1964? Nixon in 1968? Dems with McGovern in 1972? Mondale in 1984? Except for tricky Dick, they didn't work out too well IIRC.

I still think all of the surviving Repub candidates have significant flaws. Romney is an avowed centrist who lacks appeal with the base. Santorum's conservative "values" seems sanctimonious, especially to the libertarian Republicans. Newt lacks leadership and organizational skills. Paul is Paul.

I think many of us here on JOM are struggling to determine who is the "least worst" candidate. It's a tough call, but I suspect few here would disagree with following the motto OMG ABO.

[Clarice]

Boehner jumps in on HHS fight. http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/02/08/boehner-ups-the-ante-in-the-hhs-fight-with-the-catholic-church/

Nice to see one strategic thinker on our side.

[Boatbuilder]

Why do I feel like Oliver Twist?

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

Should have read:

Santorum's conservative "values" seem sanctimonious, especially to the libertarian Republicans, and his devotion to fiscal sanity seems tepid at best.

[Danube of Thought]

I'm hoping for at least some Cream of Wheat.

[Clarice]

Good news, daddy.

[Danube of Thought]

Mickey Kaus is priceless on the asshole Reinhardt's opinion.

[Porchlight]

I largely agree with you, Jim R, but I don't understand why "values" needs to be in quotes.

[NK]

daddy-- thanks for the link. That is really an underappreciated story. Corrupt 'career ' DOJ prosecutors deciding a US Senate election. Outrageous.

[bgates]

Just remember, when blasting Romney suopporters as trolls, that our generous and beloved host has implied support for Romney in his posts.

You must have missed all the Gary Taubes threads. For TM, cold oatmeal is not only unappetizing, it's a slow-acting poison that first induces lethargy and eventually hastens death.

That's right in line with the harshest complaints about Romney in the comments.

[Rick Ballard]

I think he lacks Nixon's firm grasp of basic principles. He does have the stage presence and ability to clearly articulate nothing. His strongest point may be his lack of backbone. Boehner and McConnell will be able to work with that to the advantage of the country.

[Clarice]

Hehm bgates. I confess when I first saw that header I thought it was more diet warnings.

[Appalled]

bgates:

You've given me the best laugh of the day. Consider it collateral damage to givng everyone else a good laugh.

[lyle]

From DoT's link:

a sort of Brezhnev doctrine of liberal judicial activism.

Spot on.

[Dave (in MA)]

Three headlines that went up at Drudge today:

POLAR ICE CAPS MELTING LESS THAN THOUGHT...

STUDY: Himalayas, nearby peaks lost no ice in past 10 years...

Scientists 'stunned'...

[Ranger]

Dave,

Check this out from Hot Air:

Two more scientists change sides in the AGW debate

It's almost like the science isn't settled.

[jimmyk]

I do think that, on the whole, posts on JOM in support of Romney tend to unduly deemphasize weaknesses of the Mittster.

Or, to put it another way, the not-Romney supporters have been pretty candid about the grievous flaws of the alternatives. The recent uptick in anti-Romney stuff here mainly reflects the concern that his gaffes are making him less electable, which was supposed to be his strong point.

[Jane]

The scientists should be disbarred, or whatever they do to scientists who are unethical liars.

[jimmyk]

The scientists should be disbarred, or whatever they do to scientists who are unethical liars.

I think they get jobs in Democrat administrations.

[Jane]

LOL Jimmy. Unless they become anchors on Al Gore's TV station.

[daddy]

hi. having a very fun time at the ram pub in seattle.
are your ears burning? we r talking bout you guys:)

[Sara]

Porch and C-cal:

Do you hear yourselves? No one is calling anyone stupid for not supporting Romney, no one is bashing GOP voters for not supporting Romney, but, God help someone for supporting Romney. Stop your whining. We get it that you don't like Romney and that you think those of us who do are the idiots, the trolls, and, as it was so succinctly put, the dumbest person ever to post here.

[Janet]

hi. having a very fun time at the ram pub in seattle.
are your ears burning? we r talking bout you guys:)

Hey!!!...to daddy, Manuel Transmission, & Jim Miller. Is anyone else there?

[NK]

OT-- here's a link to a BLUE v. BLUE fight in Blue Rhode Island. Bankrupt City of Providence is putting the squeeze on the most Left Wing Ivy -- Brown U -- for $$$. This is the end of the Blue model -- it's true in Greece, Spain, Ct., Illinois, NJ and especially California. The Bankrupt Blue Pols having driven industry out will go after the universities and hospitals -- anything for $$$. I hope Indy voters are paying attention, federal taxpayers are next:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-08/harvard-s-voluntary-tax-spurs-ailing-providence-to-press-brown.html

[NK]

Daddy-- enjoy the pub-- send some photos.

[centralcal]

I have not called you anything, nor am I whining when I state my honest opinion.

Once again you accuse - idiots, trolls, dumbest person ever - link to any comment I have made using those words in reference to your support of Romney, or apologize for the completely untrue statements you directed at me.

[Sue]

I feel like I'm in an alternate universe. Where everything up is down and everything down is up.

[Rick Ballard]

Sue,

You must of eaten some of that gray green hairy stuff on the oatmeal. It's a hallucinogen.

[Sue]

::yikes::

[Porchlight]

Sara,

We get it that you like Romney, but that doesn't stem the incessant tide of pro-Romney/anti-everyone else stuff coming from you. Stop putting words in people's mouths.

[Not Sara]

EEEKKK!! The catfights are starting again--it's Sara against C-c and Sue. Who will win???

[Sara]

The recent uptick in anti-Romney stuff here mainly reflects the concern that his gaffes are making him less electable, which was supposed to be his strong point.

No, what it reflects is that many here still take the word of MSM spin as gospel and park common sense at the door, where Romney is concerned.

Take the use of the word "gaffe." A gaffe is defined as a "clumsy social error, a faux pas," or in Washington speak it is, "telling the truth by accident."

Romney's remark was not a gaffe when taken in sentence context, in other words, don't drop the 2nd part of the sentence, but also in full context of what the subject of the remark was in full. That subject was Romney's plan for the middle class and not the poor or the rich. Did he tell the truth by accident, well that's what the left wants you to believe, that he was saying he doesn't care about the little people, the poor and he "accidentally" showed his true colors, but, of course, that isn't the truth at all. So neither definition fits.

[Porchlight]

Sara at 3:41 pm:
No one is calling anyone stupid for not supporting Romney, no one is bashing GOP voters for not supporting Romney

Sara at 3:59 pm:
No, what it reflects is that many here still take the word of MSM spin as gospel and park common sense at the door, where Romney is concerned.

Got that? Not stupid. Just lacking common sense where Romney is concerned and unable to view MSM spin as anything but gospel.

Glad that's all straightened out.

[Not Sara]

Let's face it. Romney is simply not at ease in public. I think he is really shy. And, that, together with being tone deaf in what he says adds up to a not lovable person. BUT, do we have to love the Republican nominee? With the group we have now, that might not be possible.

[Sue]

Just lacking common sense where Romney is concerned and unable to view MSM spin as anything but gospel.

I don't know about you, Porch, but I'm too busy listening to the influence of Rush, Hannity and Levin to worry about what MSM spin is doing.

[Janet]

This is good -

[Barbara]

Romney's remark was not a gaffe when taken in sentence context

Come on now, Sara. Regardless of what the rest of the sentence was or what he intended, Romney should not have said that he didn't care about the poor. In any context, sentence or paragraph, it was a stupid thing to say. Even Romney says that he "misspoke." Let it go.

[MarkO]

You think you've got trouble? You could be my Dukies playing against UNC at home. That's real doom. This has turned into an incredibly bad team. I'm at a loss.

[Sue]

CNN has suspended Roland Martin indefinitely for tweets he made during the SB game. I'm trying to feel sorry for him, but I just can't. He should have been suspended long ago for remarks made about Sarah Palin.

[cathyf]

That is really an underappreciated story. Corrupt 'career ' DOJ prosecutors deciding a US Senate election. Outrageous.

I put a different take on it: DC has approximately the same population as Alaska. DC has no senators, Alaska has two. DC decided to take one of Alaska's two senators for themselves. So DC prosecutors indicted the Alaska senator next up for re-election, and then they carried out a trial in DC, with DC residents as jury members.

[jimmyk]

Romney's remark was not a gaffe when taken in sentence context, in other words, don't drop the 2nd part of the sentence, but also in full context of what the subject of the remark was in full.

I know that and you know that, but it still made him vulnerable to ridicule, as any experienced candidate should know. If it were just that one slip, it wouldn't be an issue, but it's been a series. I have a broader definition of "gaffe" that includes his support of minimum wage increases, for example, or his blatant distortions of Newt's resume in the House.

Why is it so hard to acknowledge these shortcomings in Mitt? It would make your (and bio mom's) support for him a lot more credible. Despite my (unenthusiastic) support for Mitt, I dumped on him for his anti-capitalist demagoguing, and his other gaffes. I was all set to switch to Mitt until he started blowing it.

[jimmyk]

Oops, that should read "my (unenthusiastic) support for Newt." I get my four-letter epithets mixed up too. My support is so unenthusiastic I even get his name wrong.

[Danube of Thought]

"many here still take the word of MSM spin as gospel "

That must be it. What other reason could there possibly be for not supporting him?

[Sara]

We get it that you like Romney, but that doesn't stem the incessant tide of pro-Romney/anti-everyone else stuff coming from you. Stop putting words in people's mouths.

This is a lie, again, about my position or my statements.

I haven't been anti-anyone else, in fact, I was neutral for a long time. I see the pluses and minuses of all the candidates and praise where praise is due. I'm sorry if it bothers you that I decided Newt is not presidential material after his temper tantrum and childish continuing vendetta. I'm sorry that I decided that Rick Perry just isn't quick enough on his feet to survive what is sure to be a brutal campaign, I was quite gung-ho on Cain, I'm sorry that I couldn't see Bachmann winning, or that Santorum saying the country doesn't need a good executive only a tough CofC or that some of his positions are way way too dictatorial for my libertarian taste turns me away from him. But one thing you have not seen from me is attacks on anyone else the way Romney is constantly attacked here.

As a fiscal conservative Republican first, I made my decision based on that factor, giving it the highest priority.

[Danube of Thought]

What were the tweets?

[Sue]

If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl

and

Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass

[Jane]

Well we now have an absolute verdict on my peacemaking skills.

Daddy you better say nice things or we will talk about you tomorrow night.

Clarice, is there snow in DC? Do I need boots?

[Sue]

Jane,

Don't feel bad. It's like herding cats.

[Jane]

Sue, more like tigers most of whom I am very fond of.

[Sue]

gabrielmalor Gabriel Malor
#CPAC12 MT @westwingreport: Don't be alarmed by planes flying over the city tomorrow AM. NORAD is conducting an exercise between 3-5 am ET

[Sue]

Oh, wait, I don't know what city. I'll find out.

[Sue]

I guess the westwingreport in the tweet should have been the clue if I had been paying attention. Those in DC should let us know what it sounds/looks like.

[Janet]

10,000 students bused in for an exercise event.

What a waste of time. They should just invite Kid Pan Alley if they want leftwing propaganda. Cheaper & saves on carbon emissions. WWPBD

[Porchlight]

Jane, I respect your efforts to keep the peace. I think I should just stop reading JOM after a certain point in the early afternoon Central time.

[Dave (in MA)]

Sue,

A CNN anchor was benched after sending homophobic tweets during the Super Bowl.
...
He also made fun of a New England Patriots player earlier in the day who arrived wearing a pink jump suit.

[Sara]

I don't know about you, Porch, but I'm too busy listening to the influence of Rush, Hannity and Levin to worry about what MSM spin is doing.

What do Rush, Hannity and Levin have to do with the immediate spin by Ashley Banfield and the rest of the CNN crew?

Barbara:

Me let it go? I'm not sure I've even addressed the remark before. I didn't say he should have said it the way he did, especially considering that he has said the same thing in campaign speeches and no one said a word, but I object to the pejorative term, gaffe.

[Old Lurker]

Cecil, there might only be two actual Romney supporters here. I would say most of the rest of us will eat whatever cold moldy oatmeal we must to get rid of Obama.

I think that is why turnouts are low: we can't rise to the level of actual support for any of them, and going to vote in a primary suggests more support than one might feel.

But we will eat the oatmeal in November.

[Sue]

What do Rush, Hannity and Levin have to do with the immediate spin by Ashley Banfield and the rest of the CNN crew?

Ask bio mom.

[Frau Eigensinn]

(The next troll to say JOMers are in lockstep gets tons of ridicule from me.)

daddy, a report on the beers, please.
Anyone having a buttface?

[Not Sara]

Well, it is OBO, but it is going to be very difficult--especially if the nominee is Santorum. He is just so santimonious, and I know he would not get the libertarian vote.

[Jack is Back!]

Sara,

For someone who professes experience in PR, working for a congresscritter and a presidential campaign you seem to disregard the optics of Romney's campaign as uneffectual. All these candidates are flawed and make bone-head statements and most of them are taken out of context. But that is what a professional campaign has to deal with and do it timely and correctly. Perspective is reality in politics and right now Mitt Romney's optic is quite blurred and uninspiring to the majority of caucus and primary voters.

To say (as bio mom or someone else) he gave Colorado away to Santorum is hard to believe considering his organization from 08 was basically in tact and his campaign was pumping money into TV and Radio buytime up to the polls closing. This was a surprise of all surprises - bigger than SC since he had never won SC before.

We are now on our 5th "Not Romney" candidate in the polls or straw polls (Bachman, Perry, Cain, Newt and Santorum) not even considering the Ronulans that can screw up every phone or internet poll. Something tells me the reason he has to go negative is he has nothing else to talk about that will attract a strong base of voters (more than 50%). He has to kill of the opposition of ideas instead of facing Obama and his policies.

I think this is starting to catch up to him. Expect to see a new Mitt in the next few weeks as well as a campaign shake up. I may be wrong since I usually am according to my bookie.

[Frau Eigensinn]

Personally, I'll take contentious intra-JOM-family squabbles over even *one* visit from Cleo the vulgar sadist and his multiple personalities. That's enough to make a person leave or heave.

Good stuff from Mickey and Volokh.

[Threadkiller]

Big surprise!

"As the hearing neared, I wondered how many electoral votes Georgia has and how many were at stake if Obama was not allowed on the ballot. It was found that Georgia has 15 Electoral Votes that will be presented to the Electoral College for the presidential candidate. At jeopardy for the Democratic party if Obama were to lose the three Georgia cases are 15 electoral votes. Amazingly, Obama put his party at risk by not showing up with the requested documents to prove his eligibility to be on the presidential ballot. Will they appeal the 3 lawsuits and say by asking for him to prove his bona fides that the Plaintiffs are all racists?

With 15 electoral votes at stake, I wondered, who are the Presidential Electors in Georgia? From the list, there was one that caught my eye.

Michael K. Jablonski 260 Brighton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30309 Party: Democrat Age: 56 Occupation: Attorney

I inquired of Mario Apuzzo Esq. with the questions posed above, and he responded to my query. It is with permission that I post his response.

Bridgette,

Article II, Section 1 lists those who are expressly not eligible to be appointed electors to the Electoral College. They are Senators, Representatives, or persons holding an office of trust or profit under the United States. The Article does not exclude a current President’s private attorney.

However, if you read The Federalist No. 68 (Hamilton), you will see that an elector is not supposed to have “too great devotion to the President in office.” An elector is not to have any “sinister bias” and is supposed to have a “transient existence” and be “detached” from the presidential contest. Under this standard of being an elector, given that Jablonski is Obama’s private attorney and is arguing in a court that his client is a “fit person” and eligible for the office of President, it would appear that Jablonski does not fit the constitutionally intended character of an elector and should therefore resign as an Electoral College elector."

http://wtpotus.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/does-obamas-attorney-michael-jablonski-know-the-truth/

Oh, and his wife is a federal judge in Atlanta.(and she graduated from Harvard)

[Jane]

Eric Bolling just suggested that the administration really really wants this election to be about social issues, which is why they are attacking the Catholic Church.

Porch, it happens to the best of us.

[Barbara]

gabrielmalor Gabriel Malor #CPAC12 MT @westwingreport: Don't be alarmed by planes flying over the city tomorrow AM. NORAD is conducting an exercise between 3-5 am ET

Reminds on of ECOMCON (Seven Days In May).

Jane, I respect your efforts to keep the peace.

I do as well, Porch. I grew up in a family of siblings with very strong opinions, so I'm used to raucous discussions at the dinner table. We were born and raised democrats, and imagine my parents surprise when most of us began voting republican after Jimmy Carter's failed presidency. I remember my mother remarking, "Where did we go wrong." I told her that they raised us to be individuals and to think for ourselves. She wasn't convinced, of course; probably felt they gave us the wrong vitamins or sent us to the wrong schools.

All that is to say is that understand the diversity and value and appreciate the individuality of the highly intelligent and interesting people who post on this board. The comments at JOM are worth reading for content as well as opinion in comparison to other blogs where personal invective seems to dominate the dialogue. Like my father at our dinner table, sometimes someone has to referee the discussion. I think that Jane performs that role admirably.

[Janet]

or Angry Rino?

[Stephanie]

So Mitt took his team to Mystery, Alaska and got his butt kicked but now the front office is saying the results are irrelevant cause the wins don't count toward Lord Stanley's Cup?

In what universe is a thrashing by the minor league upstarts not an indicator to the pro team from the other division that vulnerabilities are there for some major exploitation?

Geez. There's a reason that results like Appalachian State over Michigan are usually lethal. Not only are you relegated to less than stellar bonafides of belonging in the big boy leagues, you undermine your own team's self confidence.

You don't approach a game with the "B" team like they are the "B" team.

Any Given Sunday, baby. Even teams playing in the Sandlot know that.

/did I work in enough sports/movie references? ;)

[Janet]

The JOMers have been spotted by using google earth -

daddy, Man Tran, & J Miller

[Sue]

LOL.

[Sue]

LOL to both of you.

[Clarice]

I saw some rain before but no snow--snow showers are predicted again for Sat--Jane. Should you find any of you need sweaters or jackets or anything because it got colder than you think, I have plenty to spare.

[Porchlight]

Thanks Jane.

That's great, Janet! I am very envious of them...

[Janet]

or this for the dreaded social conservatives -

[glasater]

Good article:

Romney's Businessman Pitch Won't Work

[Porchlight]

Excellent work, Stephanie.

[Barbara]

LOL.

Janet, where do you find these great photos?!!

[Threadkiller]

Janet, I think you were on Goober Earth.

[Porchlight]

Here's another one. This is fun!

[Porchlight]

LOL Threadkiller!!

[Frau Eigensinn]

Watch it, TK. The peanut gallery will take offense. It's bad enough oatmeal has been smeared.