On Fox News tonight, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin told Sean Hannity that she would vote for Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary to keep the vetting process in motion:
If I were a South Carolinian though, and each one of these primaries and caucuses are different, Sean, I want to see this thing continue because iron sharpens iron. Steel sharpens steel. These guys are getting better in their debates. They are getting more concise. They are getting more grounded in what their beliefs are and articulating what their ideas are for getting America back on the right track and getting Americans working again. If I had to vote in South Carolina order to keep this thing going, I would vote for Newt and I would want it to continue. More debates, more vetting of candidates.
(Hat tip: Politico.)
Obama will have a field day with Romney if he is the nominee for his wall-street prep-boy elitism. Also with his taxes! The reason Romney will not publish his tax returns is that he pays a tax rate (on his multimillion $ income) that is lower than the effective tax rate for anyone on his staff. When this becomes offical, Obama will pound on him that he wants to further lower taxes on people like him that pay very little in taxes anyway, while increasing the taxes on lower-income Americans. A flip-flop multimillionaire, with no core convictions (except that "greed is good"), who pays <15% tax rate and wants to reduce his taxes even further, while regular middle class Americans pay 25-35% in federal taxes, will never win the Presidency! Romney (and his tax rate when his returns are published) will become the poster boy for not extending the Bush tax cuts – you simply cannot have Romney as the nominee and extension of the Bush tax cuts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseVideo of Sarah Palin on Hannity, says if she were in SC she would vote for Newt...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePalin is still waiting for an opportunity to endorse Perry.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat a lot of nonsense. Some Republicans prefer Romney, others Newt, still others Paul or Santorum. Big-shot supposed Republican and conservative leader prefers...more vetting!
There's a courageous stance, albeit it is a barely disguised, disingenuous and dishonest backhanded endorsement of Gingrich. But it is typical of this over-rated flash in the pan has been.
Ludicrous.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSmart politics. It feels like Gov. Romney needs to be forced to tow the line to the right.
Looks like Gov. Palin is goosing Mitt for his own good.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat is probably the best case that she can make for voting for Newt, certainly better than arguing on the merits of his candidacy.
Other than the 150 evangelical leaders endorsing him, Santorum is having a really bad week. Newt might be able to catch up to Romney, if voters have a short term memory and forget that a week ago Newt was in jihad mode making Michael Moore's case against Romney and capitalism. The good news for Romney is that Newt is too unstable to maintain momentum, as he will self-destruct, again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"...if voters have a short term memory and forget that a week ago Newt was in jihad mode making Michael Moore's case against Romney and capitalism."
Indeed, but a few sideline pundits actually embraced this garbage as well, stuck on a very dysfunctional bias. They further lowered their credibility, with suggestions leftist populism would be something we need to fear in a General Election, as if we need to run away from Private Enterprise. These were the same voices who were telling us we needed a strong challenge to the Democratic Party in the Election boldly defending Conservative Principles, but suddenly they were eager to abandon the Free Market out of their fashionable bias over the successful Romney. Again, eager to follow Newt Gingrich right off a cliff.
I think the pundits on Our side, many voices, have again over hyped the Newt debate offering, focused on the response to Juan. It is always good to see someone rebuke the pathetic racism charge. But it doesn't instantly make one Presidential in my book, after all this folly, including the enormous Beltway baggage and lack of sincere Executive experience. There are a few still dreaming. Gingrich is a very poor candidate, and it is surprising to see some sink with the fan fare over the Beltway Insider who grafted so much from Fannie and Freddie.
To put how unethical Newt is, not only was he running on the left side with Obama, not only did he use the old Democratic Partisan line "merely raising questions" in the Debate, Gingirch has apparently not released his tax returns either, but now claims he will, while he calls for Romney to do so (another Democratic Partisans attack gimmick).
It is just more embarrassment from the same old self serving Newt.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe dingbat dreams of weird scenarios in which she could ride in like Joan of Arc. But it doesn't get that weird.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseVery fun Ed, and quite accurate.
Remember when Sarah said something about it not being too late for someone to jump in the race? Her ambition was showing.
But it was and is far too late. Gingrich, Perry, Santorum, etc., could not even get on the VA Ballot, having all the proper time. Perhaps, Sarah still hopes many will be calling for her to enter the Primary. Or even has visions after 2012.
Remember when Ssrah was trying to make an issue with a Christmas Card?
"Republicans Are Furious About Obama's Christmas Card... Wait Till They See Reagan's"
She really should do her homework...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThank you Sarah. Finally some intelligence inserted into the process. Let's see how Dana Perino and Mona Charen process this.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat a dingbat. Vote Newt to keep the race alive? Talk about a pathetic "endorsement" for a candidate. What's next? Vote Newt because he'll help buy advertising spots in other states?
As usual, history isn't on her side: long, brutal primaries (and make no mistake about it, as we've seen these past few days, that's exactly what Newt wants) aren't exactly the stepping stone to electoral success. No matter who wins, they're walking away with a few bruises. With Obama, that's something we can't afford. Don't vote solely to keep the primary alive as an end in itself: vote because you think your guy is better than the rest. Good grief.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMrs. Palin is falling right in line with Stephen Hayes, Bill Kristol and the rest of the Fox gang to do it's best to pick Gingrich up off the mat. It's ok to support your favorite candidate. I can't argue with that. But I can't quite understand the Fox fascination with Gingrich. His inadequate leadership skills are on display daily in a campaign that is helter skelter and undisciplined. I wish one of the moderators would have asked the question of Santorum or Perry,"What do you think of Newt saying you two should drop out because a vote for you is a vote for Mitt." Then maybe one of them would have been able to say, "A vote for Newt is a vote for Mitt. Newt should drop out of the race."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSarah has become such a disappointment.....it's almost desperate sounding for her.
She's risking a lot of her brand on saying this as well.
Wonder if Mitt wins in SC? What will that say about her influence? Especially since she couldn't get the Tea Party candidate Joe Miller elected in her own state in 2010....it's dicey for her.
Maybe that's why she is taking so long to endorse? Or maybe she likes the schtick of keeping people guessing so she can stay relevant?
Sarah really hasn't been much of an opinion maker of late.....when is the last time you heard anyone anywhere talk about her Facebook posts?
Also it's ironic to hear someone quote endurance and toughening up from a person who quit their job when things got a little tough.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell said.
It does sound very desperate.
Sarah always tends to follow fashion a great deal, failing to lead. I will never forget her jumping on the paid appearance to address the newly formed Tea Party Express group, very interesting for a former GOP Candidate selected by the "established" Maverick. I participated in the early Tea Party protests, but the Tea Party Express group was suspect.
Perhaps seeing some play on Gingrich's response to Juan Williams amongst Conservatives, Sarah thought this was timely. It is a little silly.
We know her husband endorsed Newt. However, the attempt to slow Romney down may just be due to personal ambition and more self interest. Sarah often seems to be very opportunistic and favor attention too much.
But here is the enormous problem, as Newt Gingrich just spent the past few weeks running on the Left with Obama and the "occupy" folly. Sarah again shows she really isn't a conservative ideal. She just pushed Newt after he provided some of the most absurd anti-Privae Enterprise garbage, embarrassing himself with an ugly Democratic Partisan push.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSarah should have used the last three years to really study energy policy and come up with sound proposals on funding energy research, balancing serious ecological concerns with energy production and pointing out the unserious, and discussing how energy concerns affect foreign policy, not just in relation to Iran but also to Russia, Poland, Brasil, and Venezuela.
We have enough people who can talk about conservative principles. We need more who are capable of applying them in the real world.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgreed. I once saw a video of her in a debate from the 2000's while campaigning for Gov of Alaska. She seemed very articulate and normal. If she had continued that route, plus study of national issues, she might well have been a serious political figure. Instead she took the lucrative TV/talking-head/cultural figure route.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere is little to be gained by drawing the contest out - either one of the challengers can rise up and compete with Romney, or they can't. It's that simple. They are who they are and they aren't getting any better. All have good debates and bad ones, and will continue to do so.
At RedState, they imagine Perry can use the month off after Florida to regroup and mount a serious challenge. And they have pictures of Bigfoot, too - pictures!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMrs. Palin,
If our candidates are not already "grounded in what their beliefs are," we're pretty screwed. We've had, what, fifteen debates? I think it will be sixteen after tomorrow. How many more do you want? But you want folks to vote for Newt?
Why? Vote for Newt so he can take his grandiosity to a whole new level? Vote for Newt so he can continue to make predictions that don't come to fruition? Vote for Newt so he can flip-flop a few more times in this campaign? Vote for Newt so we can hear him defend his attacks on capitalism for a few more weeks?
Yeah, vote for Newt.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse'He he'
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOld fan and familiars. Your 'offering' is indeed pathetic. The 'fashion' propagandistic is so
asinine that we are all having a laugh.
Thanks for playing.
Ooh, yes, more Professor Gasbag, please!
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