There is a huge fracture in the Republican Party. It is so big and it is so wide that it now threatens to destroy the chances the Republicans have in the fall.
What is it?
Actually, it is two things. First it is the scorched earth campaign run by Mitt Romney. One of Romney’s campaign staffers said a couple of days ago in Florida, “It’s not about beating Gingrich anymore. It is about destroying him.”
Gingrich was the guy who originally offered the positive campaign. In Iowa, Romney went below the belt negative on him, so Gingrich responded. Gingrich said you cannot have unilateral disarmament in a campaign, so he fought back. In Florida, Romney has been as negative and as nasty as he can be. Even at the last debate, Rich Santorum pleaded that everyone should stay on the issues and not be petty with each other. Gingrich immediately agreed. Romney turned around immediately with another snippy personal attack.
Romney’s scorched earth attacks have left Gingrich supporters beyond angry. How Romney expects their support after the nomination process is a good question.
The second fracture is the one that has been going on is the long running battle over who will control the Republican Party. Will it be the liberal Republican establishment or will it be conservatives?
The split has never been worse than it is today.
Romney and the liberal Republican establishment are bound and determined that a conservative will not be the nominee, even though it is the conservatives that brought the GOP back from the edge of death.
The Republican establishment would rather lose than let a conservative win.
Abraham Lincoln famously said that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
This is the state of the Republican Party.
As bad as Obama is, Romney is no better.
Every Republican running has pledged to repeal Obamacare, yet Romney surrogates are already out saying it won’t happen. Romney has run without the conservative wing of the Party. In fact, he has made it a point of ignoring the conservative wing of Party and the Tea Party.
Florida will vote today and we will see the results of Romney outspending Gingrich 6-1.
The election will go on and I hope Newt will keep fighting.
If Romney wins the nomination, it is the lose-lose scenario. It is a loss for the Republican Party and it is a huge loss for America.
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This article makes your point very clearly:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/the_republican_establishments_strategic_blunder.html
As usual Judson, you’re analysis is spot on and today I feel whipped. I see the same things as you do in the Republican Party and it is fractured. I’m old fashioned, but we experienced what money, the news media and special interest groups did in 2008 and now we’re living the same thing in Florida. The election has absolutely nothing to do with who is the best candidate and who can restore our Nation. I’m a fighter but today isn’t my very best day.
Marcia, in so very few words you have captured the feelings of millions today…weary of the fight we should be winning.
If 2010 mid-term elections taught anybody anything, it should have been that conservatives drove that train…and we should be doing it again.
As Dick Morris just said day before yesterday, the choice of a conservative presidential candidate will boil down to values or economics – whichever has priority in the voter’s mind. I see Gingrich as standing for conservative values which are all about America and freedom, especially based on a focus that is centered on God and His purposes. If, as he believes, our focus is on Him, then everything else falls into place. If not, then we are doomed to failure. On the other side of the fence, if Romney wants to win the election he will have to come over on the side of Gingrich, but I don’t believe that he will ever do. Romney is too focused on economics focused on what man can bring about, not what God can enable us to do. There it is in a nutshell.
I feel whipped too Marcia, can I just say DITTO
I hope 4 years from now the teaparties can unite and can get behind one nominee and can support that candidate financially. That’s just about the only way we can beat the Establishment Republicans. TEAPARTIES UNITE!!
I agree with the negativity of the Republican party. The only one who seems to be the true Conservative but will not allow anyone destroy this nation, is Rick Santorum. I like Mitt Gingrich but I feel that Santorum may be the safer candidate because he seems to have more control of his emotions.
Barry, This will be our last free election if we do not unite. We must unite after today. Our freedom and hope is at risk. My hope and prayer is that the Tea Party leaders with the help of Sarah Palin unite and begin the fight. The Tea party is our only hope. This race is between Conservatives and Establishment Republicans. As Sarah says ” We must fight like a girl.”
jtkell100, I agree 100%, IF we even have an election in November (not a foregone conclusion!). As I’ve said before, we MUST UNITE TO DEFEAT ODUMBO OR WE LOSE THE REPUBLIC!!!! I would vote for Mickey Mouse (if he can vote, he can run, right?) over ODUMBO!!!!
ABO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Barry – You are spot on! Unless the Tea Partiers unite, we are doomed. Four more years of Obama is unthinkable.
Gotta love the irony that Abraham Lincoln, charter member of big government control, is hailed as the voice of wisdom in such a post. I believe the bible, specifically Mark 3:25, predates Lincoln by a few years.
Keep up the good work.The Tea Party represents my conservative beliefs and nature.
You are correct. If Romney wins ,we lose to Obama. Have you heard the latest? OMG=
Obama Must Go!
I believe it is time to face reality: The Democratic AND Republican Party are Corrupted beyond RECOVERY. It is now time for ‘True Patriots’ to join the ‘CONSTITUTION PARTY’, nominate a ‘Tea Party’ Candidate, march on and ’Shut down’ Washington D.C. till ’We the People’ re-establish our sovereignty.
If Romey wins the nomination its pretty much over for us. Call it sticking your head in the sand, but I will not vote for Romney ever. He’s a scumbag and could care less about America, except for what he can get to enrich himself. Anybody who supports Romney better wake up. If Romney is elected, in four years you will be living in a 2nd rate country that is bankrupt.
Yes Gingrich comes with a lot of baggage but I can live with that, because he puts America first, not his bank account balance.
Romney could care less about you America, and if you are stupid enough to believe the lies from him, then I got some swamp land in Florida I can sell you.
Only a complete moron that has had a lobotomy would downsize the military to support Obamacare.
Go ahead America vote for Romney and when the *** hits the fan I will take great joy in rubbing your face in your stupidity.
David, My husband and I agree with you 100%. Everybody says if you stay home, you give Obama 4 more years. My reply to that is…Romney is just as bad, so what’s your point. If the establishment republicans give us Romney, then we will stay home. There are a lot of people who think the way we do. When Obama gets another 4 years because Romney was the best the establishment could give us, then we deserve what we get.
Yep….I’m right with you. I’ll vote GOP downballot, but will vote 3rd Party for president if it’s Myth Romney.
The best thing that can happen is for a single protest 3rd party candidate to emerge…almost doesn’t matter which one. We have to get someone enough vote to be the difference between GOP victory and Obama. Only THEN will the GOP bosses get the clue that the right cannot just be ignored.
Ed
As I’ve posted on the tea party site,
The “Washington Establishment”, (read, Federal Reserve) will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who questions or sheds light on their authority to run the government,
If it became apparent Newt, or Paul was going to be the next President, someone would sneak up behind them, like Lincoln, or step out of a crowd, like George Wallace, Robert Kennedy or hide on a grassy knoll, like JKF, and for the price of a bullet, stop them.
I don’t think most Americans understand just how powerful and organized the opponent they chosen to defeat really is,
and underestimating your opponent can be “Fatal”.
We have to stay determined to change Washington and I still believe it can be done. Obama must go, on this we all agree. In the end we may be stuck with Romney but a conservative president will not necessarily change the party. What will change the party is a continual influx of conservatives filling the seats in the House and Senate. The recent crop of freshmen are trying but they are the freshmen and so are overpowered by those long established members; they are diluted. The Legislature has power but they have abdicated it to the President. The Legislature has ignored the Constitution so long that they don’t seem to know how it works any more or are so afraid of the mainstream media that they will not exercise that power against a President who seems to have the entire press corps on his side.
As we elect more and more conservatives to the legislature they will begin to dilute the old line Republicans instead of the other way around. Please do not get so focused on the Presidential race that you miss the opportunities that abound to get conservatives elected. A solid majority in both houses could impeach a president successfully if our worst fears were realized.
J Andrew Reid
“A solid majority in both houses could impeach a president successfully if our worst fears were realized.”
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.. let’s not give up the ship just because the forces that be can block us from picking the R nominee. The president’s power is limited if congress does their job. If we can get a TP congress, we will have the power. The worst thing that could happen to us is for Romney to be elected and the the rank and file republicans telling themselves “all is well” and then disengaging from the process. That would be worse than Obama getting reelected. One of the things Obama has done for us is to “awaken a sleeping giant”. We must capitalize on this but it may not happen in the presidential race. This may be a battle that lasts for years. I pray we have the staying power to prevail.
We have to face reality the establishment Republicans rather loss the election than have a true conservative on the ticket. In 2012 they did not support Angle in Nevada, O’Connell in Delaware, Buck in Colorado, Rossi in Washington State, and Miller in Alaska in the Senate because they were true conservative and supported by the TEA Party movement and they lost. They are doing it again in the President race with Romney over Gingrich and Santorum. In Pennsylvania last Saturday January 28 the state committee endorsed a candidate for U.S. Senate against Robert Casey. Governor Corbett and the State Chairman barely got the state Republican committee to endorsed Stephen Welch for the Senate in the primary. There are several good candidates available and the grassroots movement asked the party to have an open primary. I have found out that Mr. Welch supported Obama in 2008 and Joe Sestak in 2010 in the Senate race against Pat Toomey. There is no way a true conservative can vote for someone who supported Obama so therefore the primary I know the base if they knew of Mr. Welch background will not supported him and thereby we are guarantee Senator Casey re-election and another is safe for the Democrats.
Romney was just as nasty, dirty, and dishonest 4 years ago. I’m glad hes had a long marriage to the same woman. However, that is far different then being a person of good character. Romney’s character is nothing to be admired, respected, or emulated. Secondly, his “faith” is unrecognizable with the “Tri-unity” God who reveals Himself in Holy Scripture. It is unthinkable that the GOP of the 2010 elections could ever nominate Romney, but especially so in 2012 facing national destruction. Romney is not now nor has he ever been … conservative.
For at least the last 20 years I have argued with my Christian and conservative friends that we needed to stay within the GOP fighting and winning control of a national political party. Progressives and liberals had taken the democrat party and were intent on taking control of the GOP and ending all opposition to their un-constitutional and anti-American agenda. Going as far back as at least Perot, many told me we needed to bolt the GOP for another party. I adamantly disagreed. However, if the GOP nominates Mitt Romney, I will no longer feel welcome in the GOP. Romney is even more progressive and liberal than either Dole or McCain.
I admire and respect Rick Santorum, though he is utterly wrong on how to defeat judicial tyranny. However, for whatever reasons, Santorum gets no traction nationally. His only win in Iowa happened only after he literally moved his entire family there and campaigned non-stop in all 99 counties for a year. A sound strategy if running to be president of Iowa, but not for one seeking the GOP nomination for the presidency of our republic.
Newt Gingrich isn’t perfect … no human is. Neither was Ronald Reagan but Reagan was Christian and conservative. Reagan was an intelligent man of letters and a student of history and recognized communism as the greatest evil facing humanity during his lifetime. All of those are also true of Newt Gingrich except that now islamic extremists have replaced communists as the greatest evil we face, and Gingrich has said so.
I pray daily first that God’s Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, then that if it be within His Will that our nation may see both spiritual and civic revival, that either Newt or Rick be elected to lead the restoration of our republic. I leave the spiritual revival to the Holy Spirit and those chosen of God. Santorum consistently receives 14% of the votes and has never led nationally or in any State other than Iowa. I hope Rick bows out soon. I have NO doubt almost all of Rick’s support and votes would move to Newt leaving Romney in the minority position all the way to the nomination.
2012 is my last battle within the GOP. If we nominate Romney I see no alternative for Christian conservatives than to find or build a new national party from which to wage political warfare to restore or republic.
Sadly, it may be that the united States will stand with or lead the one world government of “anti-christ.” Scripture is unclear on this. I await both the Rapture and the Millenial reign of Christ … and then eternity. Even so come.
Chas
Duncan, OK
Chas Jones,
Your comment was beautiful. I have copied it to keep and re-read.
You are so correct. As I have said, the split in the conservative support we needed to unite behind one candidate will be our demise.
Those of us that know our true King is coming back for us must take comfort in this fact and know with assurance that His plan is unfolding just as it always has and always will.
I don’t for a moment believe it is over today if Newt loses. The media will tell you it is, but it isn’t. By the middle of February in 2008 Romney had won 11 states, at the moment he has won only one. After today there will still be 46 states to go. Shut off the MSM news, ignore the naysayers and just keep talking Newt up and support him financially if you can.
It isn’t over!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. We cannot quit fighting!
Yamamoto, when advising against invading America, said that there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. He pretty well described Americans since 1775 but like always we talk until its useless. The establishment, left and right, envision the collapse of America and winning total control. Well, America can very well collapse but all that means is Patriots will have nothing left to lose and everything to gain. I would not want to be tagged “establishment” in that situation. I would not want to be anyone trying to enforce martial law. I would not want to be connected to the lame stream media. Those who have nothing to lose will be very mean and nasty. Remember, when American Marines were faced by an enemy with no give, they gave new meaning to no quarter.
Semper Fi
The Tea Party should have stood behind Rick Santorum. If one would like to go back on the archives on this site, or any other site….one would see that 6 months ago..Newt was the one MOST of you were against!
Please look at what you all wrote.
I do not see Romney as a demon, never have. To make statements like he does not love this country…well how would anyone on here know that. Talk about political bias.
I have never changed my view about Newt, like most on here have.
Rick Perry was my number 1 choice…no one loves this country more than he. You all ran like a rabbit from him. There was a time that Judson actually liked him.
Newt has NONE of the values all of you claim to be looking for..name me ONE.
If the Tea Party should decide to back Rick Santorum…who really is as he seems, I would be with you all. There is so much more to come out about Newt…we would get creamed.
Till then, I find Mitt to be a really good man politically, morally and will do a good job…or should we say , much better than Obama.
If Newt starts to become the head runner…expect the DNC to absolutely destroy him. They have much ammo.
Consider Rick Santorum before it is to late. He is a great man and a great patriot. MILLIONS do not see Newt as a patriot, they just do not and I am one of them.
Someone mentioned rallies, marches, well there were few that I missed. But then, it got so that none could be put together. They started getting cancelled. I always wrote..great..what can I do. Sadly, not enough responded with the same enthusiasm…so here we are folks.
I am afraid that blogging just is not the same as all of us joining together in physical form, the inspiration was overwhelming, the air electric. Perhaps a lesson will be learned.
So many rant or comment on Newt’s “PAST” failings without ever admitting his many successes, including Leading the House back to Majority which all doubted possible. Most ignore his hitting rock bottom and asking God for forgiveness and redemption. We cannot rally behind ideal values while also condemning those God alone claims right of judgement, when they repent!
I wish Santorum caught on but he never has. He isn’t well known nationally and most voters want someone they know, someone with major successes as Newt has in his record, someone with fire and passion in defense of conservativism, all which they see more of, far more of, in Newt than in Rick. Rick’s future day may come, but it isn’t here yet.
Tea Party Patriots -
We no longer have a two party system of government… It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff. Unfortunately, we are going to be required to burn off the field to affect the change and realignment that is required to put our country back on track.
The GOP no longer serves “We The People”. I am one but we are many, and I will not vote for more of the same just because it is in a different color sack. We are going to lose 2012 and we will have to endure another 4 years of Socialist destruction… Maybe then, we can rise from the ashes to recapture what WE have allowed to be lost!
Semper Fi
ConnieO, is Connie Doherty. I do not wish to be deceitful. I sometimes use ConnieO as it is so much easier than O’Doherty.
Please excuse my error.
If Newt loses FL, there is no fat lady…
Newt’s staff has released a memo that states, in spite of a loss in FL, he could capture GA and MS and surpass Romney’s lead if Romney wins FL…it ain’t over. The bottom line, if it goes to the end without a clear winner, we may very well have a brokered convention.
Strategy in case of a brokered convention:
At that point, it will be a 3 man race-Romney, Newt, and Ron Paul. Ron Paul has no chance and I don’t think he would support Romney. In fact, the biggest delta between conservatives and Paul’s folks revolves around Foreign Policy.
However, if Newt should team up with Ron Paul’s folks and promise that RAND PAUL would be his VP, we could have a game changer. (Ron Paul is so old now, he’d probably die in the VP office…but, never mind that.)
Something to think about…Rand Paul, very conservative, becomes Prez after Newt…WORSE things could happen.
In fact, there are states that we know Newt has ZERO chance of winning…yet the Paul folks are going to be steady. If the outnumbered conservatives team up with Pauls folks to deny Romney the delegates…it’s a winning strategy.
Romney has no chance…he doesn’t have the guts to select a Sarah Palin and he will be embarrassed by Obama’s victory.
We are the equivalent to the black constituency in the Democratic party.
The Republican elites despise us, have rejected the conservative platforms, and marginalized the Tea Party candidates we sent them to save the party. Shut up…sit down…
In spite of the complete impossibility at this point, there has never been a more clearly defined time in our life for a 3rd party. It’s unworkable and if it happens at all, it will evolve as a result of the Republican party going the way of the Whigs after Romney AND Republicans suffer a humiliating loss.
What you have said reminds me of what Rush Limbaugh said today on his radio talk show. I know that I can’t say it like he said it. First of all he said that he would not share with anyone who he voted for. He said that the GOP in fact wanted a moderate candidate. They do not want a conservative. He said that the GOP was now one and the same as the Democrats. GOP wants to remain as a separate party, but be involved enough to play around the fringes. They want the power and control that the money brings like the left progressives do, but under another name (GOP). The GOP likes the direction we are going, and doesn’t want someone to come along and demand change, or to really stand for the people. Limbaugh said that standing for a moderate candidate was a slap in the face for conservatives and (I quote) “the Tea-Party.”
I guess hearing this from him, as he has been a conservative for a long time and I feel knows what he is talking about, I really took it to heart. I have always known that all politicians are swayed when they go to Washington, but to hear him spell it out so clearly really completed the puzzle for me. Again, he said that this was deliberate on the GOP’s part to bring the party to the left. They do not want the Tea-Party to steal the party.
So, Dave you are exactly right. There is no more GOP as far as I am concerned. They have made their stand against the tea-party and most importantly everything that conservatives stand for. They have shown that they want no part of what we stand for. If only the conservatives could see that the Elite has chosen Romney because he IS a moderate, maybe the rest of this race could change. Maybe if all conservatives in every state could wake up to this trickery and deadly game that the GOP Elite are playing, the race could take a turn for the conservative base. Now IS the time to form a third party. A new conservative party!
Now that I think about it,
There is NO way that Limbaugh could have voted for Romney. He is the GOP elite’s pick! He is the one labeled by Gingrich, a Moderate.
Rush wouldn’t vote for a moderate. Rush wouldn’t want the GOP to move to the left, slapping the conservatives in the face!
Agree. For many decades, members of both parties have increased spending because this enables them to stay in office and enrich themselves and their friends. The Republican leadership was not give up their their share of the loot, even if they only get the leavings.
WE can beat Romney. But we have to keep contributing to Newt’s Campaign or Newt is over and we lose. Romney is about to fall and I will tell you why. Anytime a candidate starts to do what Romney does with demonizing Gingrich like he is doing. You know he doesn’t have much left to keep going after im with, so he has to lie about him. Even though he knows its lies, once it’s out there the deed is done. A lot of people will believe what they want to if it fits there perception or views. So maybe Gingrich needs to do what Romney did and get a new debate coach. It certainly couldn’t hurt right now. But I don’t think Gingrich uses a debate coach. That’s what makes Gingrich so much more qualified than Romney. He actually can do things for himself. That’s what distinguishes Newt from Romney.
I’m donating tomorrow AND Newt has two debate coaches, his grandchildren! Thank you ALL for your insight, encouragement and patriotism. Glad I read Juanita’s comment before I posted as I also in agree with her. In addition I think Romney’s attack on Newt went over the top and there is no excuse for what Bob Dole said to discredit Newt…..
I think the Republican Party may find that a lot of people, like me, who went along with their lessor of two evils, John McCain, in 2008, will not be able to stash their principles this time with Mitt Romney. Right now, I pray I will stick by my principles and not give in to the GOP. I do know I will stay with Newt Gingrich until he quits. I do know that I will change my Party, if they force Romney on us even if he wins.
I’m not a Democrat, I’m not a Republican, I’m a TEA PARTY-ER
If Milk Romno is our nominee, I am sorry folks, I WILL NOT do my civic duty and pull that lever for him. The Party of Reagan and Lincoln has been hijacked by the slimy republican establishment. George Soros even said that there is no difference between Romney and Obama. After all the lies they told about Newt, don’t expect my vote. The Republican Establishment that has enthusiastically DESTROYED Newt personally must be DESTROYED themselves. This political season has been especially ENLIGHTENING about who the real conservatives are. This country has been through a lot, I’m sure we will make it through 4 more years of Obama. God Help us all until 2016!
Where’s the fighting spirit? Is this when we look at the cup and see if half empty and give up? Or do we see it as half full and time to kick in and get behind our candidate and make some headway?
If you are as sick of Romney’s lies as I am then I think it is safe to say it is high time we get to work and form a solid front and FIGHT! I just donated to Newt’s campaign. Do we want four more years of \Ocommie, or do we want four years of the spoiled little rich boy Mittens Romney? Come lets get this show on the road!!!
Your right about the fracture yet the good news came from FOX that the tea party weighs heavily on the republican party. I read that as though we ,if united can actually affect the outcome of the election. How? If the leaders of the larger groups can reach a consensus and persuade their members it may be us that decides this coming election! Simply by uniting.
It is time for the Republican Party to go the way of the Whig Party that it displaced over 160 years ago. We need a new conservative party that actually represents the people. I am tired of holding my nose to vote for some RINO. If the liberal RINO gets the nomination, I do not know if I will have the strength to hold my nose and vote for Mitt Hussein O’Romney.
Are there people all over this country who feel like we do? If so, is it not possible to make all the tea-party leaders (I know each one is a leader) to get together at a huge conference and start forming small head groups with actual leaders. Then designated times to meet together with planned agendas?
I really wish that enough people could take time out to go to Nevada, the next state, and swarm it like they have never seen. If tea party took time to go to Washington way back when, why is this not as important? We could flood each state standing behind Newt as a huge crowd, telling everyone that Newt is the one and only candidate that is against all that Washington dishes out!
For those that cry and whine that “they hate the fighting and negative back-biting” I say, It Is A Fight Worth Waging. This Country Is Worth The Fight!
We all must unite behind Newt or we will fail to restore this country. Romney is endorsed by George Soros. Mitt’s father supported Saul Alinski! Mitts father has stated how much Saul Alinski greatly influenced his development. prez bam must not be re-elected!