Read A Choice not an Echo. The issue of the inauthentic Republican has been around at least since the 1964 Goldwater campaign, Schlafly writes at length about "Establishment" Republicans who meet secretly to make all the important decisions. This group morphs into the Trilateral Commission under David Rockefeller. She contrasts these "Country Club" Republicans with "Movement" Republicans like Goldwater.

Reagan was a Movement Republican as is the Tea Party. All these "real" conservatives fear the secret meetings and agendas of the Establishment.

On major issues Movement conservatives don't compromise. Establishment types are swayed by other considerations like party loyalty. The Santorum endorsement of Specter was solely on the basis of party loyalty. Embarrassing.

That's why the Specter-Toomey attack is completely fair. Santorum has presented himself as an uncompromised conservative and Romney as a liberal. Neither representation is true.

All politicians even the conservative ones compromise to survive. Santorum did it with his pacts over the years with Specter. Romney did it in 85% democratic Massachusetts with that stupid health care law.

Santorum is a good man. But I have no reason to believe that if Santorum had been governor of Massachusetts, he would have governed any more conservatively than Romney.

Smoke Stack,
Correct. It has moved the conversation from the only one with principles to "well, we all have to make compromises", thus beginning to unravel the myth of a puritanical candidate who argues he is, well, more puritanical than the rest. Additionally, the Specter endorsement was especially stinging because many of us pro-life, Pennsylvania Catholics who were ardent supporters of Santorum felt particularly betrayed from within our own ranks. It was his one chance to demonstrate national level leadership and he chose to follow the "establishment" which was leading the Party to utter defeat. Let's not forget, he was the Whip and had a leadership role and, therefore, a high level of responsibility for the devastating losses of 2006 and 2008.

That being said, maybe the ABRs should reconsider overreacting to every example of Romney making a decision which was less than perfect now that the shine is off their particular apple.

God bless,
Dan Hoffman

Not long ago, Romney charged Santorum with hypocrisy for endorsing Romney himself in 2008. Santorum could say "And I'll endorse you again over Obama if you get the nomination this year. Will you endorse me if I get it?"

Exactly.

Argue that Santorum is a better nominee if you want. You might even convince me enventually.

But don't tell me that Romney is suddenly a liberal when just four years ago conservatives across the country from Santorum to Limbaugh were pushing him as the conservative alternative to McCain. Romney hasn't exactly moved left since then.

They don't search high and low. They merely look at his records, past statements, and past. What they find is not very conservative. It's left-centrist.

Then the pro Romney crowd objects to their findings or twist themselves into knots trying to explain Romney's past in terms of Romney being a conservative.

Romneycare REALLY happened. It really was used as a model for Obamacare to follow. It really did cost Massachusetts a lot of money with little positive result. And Romney really suggested a minimum wage that automatically increases as inflation rises.

Calling that kind of stuff conservative doesn't work. Pointing out that Romney's opponents aren't conservative either doesn't make Romney conservative.

Internet troll....classic.

I have seen that exact line of argument used in these comments a few times.

Santorum supported Specter in the primary and now we have Obamacare. But of course. It's 100% Rick's fault

That gives pause as to the sort of intellect Mr. Inevitable applies to cause/effect issues. No wonder he and Ron (Muslims attacked us because we are engaged in the ME) Paul get along so well.

Mark, they're all lying sacks of poop. It's so easy to find examples, and you're not wrong to bring them to our attention. But there's degrees of stink.

Should Mitt be nominated, and win the white house with a GOP congress, we will be in a more hopeful position than Obama winning.

If the GOP wins in 2012 and does not make changes necessary to turn our situation around, then the party is indeed as useless as many fear it already is. But at least we'll know and can act accordingly. Surely they would know it's their last chance to show results. If we at least get decent SCOTUS picks it's worth it because that will set the court for 20 or so years, essential to have in place for a rebuilding period.

Reelecting Obama is too disastrous to ponder.

2012: Vote GOP, Perhaps for the Last Time - It's Up to Them!

I use to like Mark Steyn, but these days he just sounds like Mark Levin--foaming at the mouth with windy outrage. The wit is long gone.