The Family Leader said today it's considering Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum.

It said it did not even consider former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who appears to be ramping up his campaign in the state. He's visiting Des Moines on Wednesday.

Reading is hard.

Perry/Santorum 2012.

It said it did not even consider former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who appears to be ramping up his campaign in the state. He's visiting Des Moines on Wednesday.


Yeah. I wonder why that is.

Romney's past positions on abortion and gay marriage have been liabilities for him with social conservatives in the state.

While I'm sure that may be true, it has more to do with him just being a Mormon. There's NO way a Mormon could ever gain support from the GOP base.

vartian: That fact that it is impossible does nothing to diminish the chill down my spine when I read those names together.

You'll laugh at this, but in two weeks Rick Santorum will be leading the polls for the GOP nomination. Santorum is a true believer. He did not loss his Senate seat because of adultery or crimes; he lost his seat because the people of Pennsylvania finally saw the whole man. Now he can't run a national campaign, but he can win Iowa.

WTF Indeed: he lost his seat because the people of Pennsylvania finally saw the whole man.

*snicker*

Haha. Let me know how that works out for you, crazy guy.

Lionel Mandrake: vartian: WTF Indeed: vartian: That fact that it is impossible does nothing to diminish the chill down my spine when I read those names together.

You'll laugh at this, but in two weeks Rick Santorum will be leading the polls for the GOP nomination. Santorum is a true believer. He did not loss his Senate seat because of adultery or crimes; he lost his seat because the people of Pennsylvania finally saw the whole man. Now he can't run a national campaign, but he can win Iowa.

I was living in Philadelphia at the time. It was the single most satisfying vote I have ever cast. Off the top of my head, I don't even remember who was running against him. It didn't matter. I wasn't voting for anyone, I was voting against Santorum.

And you contributed to one of the greatest post-election photos in American history

[www.plunderbund.com image 468x325]

Caution: Do not look directly in the son's eyes.

I'm a little surprised at how poorly Bachmann is doing, she hasn't committed any major gaffes (sorry, but her base doesn't care about her making up anti-vaccination stories) and is the titular head of the teabagger movement that is largely driving the GOP, while Romney is still polling many times ahead of her.

I'm left with a suspicion that her base is simply uncomfortable with a female commander in chief, they would rather have a democrat-lite mormon male in the White House than a teabagging female.

http://media.bloomberg.com/bb/avfile/rUa3OIK6Jo5c

Do you consider Mormonism to be part of the Christian tradition, or is it something else?

Iowa Republicans: 51% Something Else, 40% Christian Tradition
NH Republicans: 46% Christian Tradition, 34% Something Else

As to the Would/wouldn't rule out questions in that poll

In Iowa:
63/33 Wouldn't rule out someone who changed positions on abortion
49/48 Wouldn't rule out someone with three marriages who had affairs
55/42 Wouldn't rule out someone who gave in-state to American-born children of illegal immigrants
58/40 WOULD rule out someone who once favored a mandate to buy health insurance
59/40 Wouldn't rule out a former Obama administration official
91/8 Wouldn't rule out a Mormon

In NH, they dislike sexual harassers, in-state tuition for American-born children of Illegals and a National Sales Tax more than in Iowa. But they're softer on Abortion position-changers, people with 3 marriages, people who once favored a HC Mandate, and Mormons

So that gap between "Would rule out a Mormon" and "Mormons aren't Christian" is probably the liars zone. But asking people to publicly rule out people for religious/racial reasons is a hard sale.

Lionel Mandrake: And you contributed to one of the greatest post-election photos in American history

Call me what you will but I would never vote for someone with a family who looks like this. I mean they look like they are from the 1800's.

Iowa continues its march into irrelevance from a political standpoint.

i hope for riots at the convention between the teabaggers, the conservatives, the republicans, and the libertarians.

Sorry Republicans, time to give up your so-called Christian monopoly. You wanna win, right?

RobbieFal: 49/48 Wouldn't rule out someone with three marriages who had affairs

But Obama made Newt have those affairs. You are making it sound like these people use facts to make decision. What they do is find someone they relate to and then generate a justification for voting for them. These numbers are about who they already want to vote for not what they use to decide who to vote for.

What interesting story line that I can't wait until it becomes right wing mainstream is Romney being the anti-Christ. It's going to be perfect because its believed the anti-Christ will lead Christians but deny the virgin birth (which according to Mormonism was caused by God actually having actual sex and not it being a "miracle").

It's going to happen sooner or later. I will be ready to laugh when it does.

Nothing says small government like religious authoritarianism.

the opposite of charity is justice: I'm a little surprised at how poorly Bachmann is doing, she hasn't committed any major gaffes

OK. That's incredibly funny.

The only thing she could have done worse would be the commercial, "I am not a beard. I'm you."

Marcus Aurelius: Why do the fundie lunatics in Iowa always get to be the first state with a primary again?

Yes, It should be changed every election to a different state.
Then Iowa would go back to being known for corn and being part of "fly over country!"

What will the Fundies do when they have to choose between a Mormon and a Muslim?

the opposite of charity is justice: I'm a little surprised at how poorly Bachmann is doing, she hasn't committed any major gaffes (sorry, but her base doesn't care about her making up anti-vaccination stories)

You know what's odd. Often Republicans actually know that "their team" is lying deep down but they still say they believe them or stand up for them even though they know it's not true. I have found MANY republicans who say some bullshiat and when you say ok I bet you $x that I am right, the run to the hills. To them it's more about loyalty then if they are wrong or right.

But I think they realize with Bachman that because she spouts all her crap (even though they would not admit it) they know she can't ever win in the general at that is why they left her.

What will be more interesting is if the voters who normally go GOP will accept Romney as he's more liberal than Obama is.

Lionel Mandrake: Corvus: Lionel Mandrake: And you contributed to one of the greatest post-election photos in American history

Call me what you will but I would never vote for someone with a family who looks like this. I mean they look like they are from the 1800's.

I love that the daughter and her doll have matching outfits. That is some kinda scene out of a horror film about inbred Appalachians

I assume you have no children. It is a prevalent marketing plan to parents of girls. Most ignore it.

That reminds me why Romney will never get the nomination. A little girl of conservative parents was talking to her teacher, a Mormon, about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

Lionel Mandrake: Corvus: Lionel Mandrake: And you contributed to one of the greatest post-election photos in American history

Call me what you will but I would never vote for someone with a family who looks like this. I mean they look like they are from the 1800's.

I love that the daughter and her doll have matching outfits. That is some kinda scene out of a horror film about inbred Appalachians

Are they farking Amish or what? I see these people and go "There is no way in hell they can understand anything about technology or anything that that has been thought up in the last 3 decades". But that is probably why Republicans like him!

Of course, this serves to increase Romney's general election appeal. Since the far right won't endorse him, he won't be beholden to it, and he'll be able to stand up to them as president. A Romney presidency will be no victory for conservatives. He'll just be another Obama, really.

Lionel Mandrake: vartian: WTF Indeed: vartian: That fact that it is impossible does nothing to diminish the chill down my spine when I read those names together.

You'll laugh at this, but in two weeks Rick Santorum will be leading the polls for the GOP nomination. Santorum is a true believer. He did not loss his Senate seat because of adultery or crimes; he lost his seat because the people of Pennsylvania finally saw the whole man. Now he can't run a national campaign, but he can win Iowa.

I was living in Philadelphia at the time. It was the single most satisfying vote I have ever cast. Off the top of my head, I don't even remember who was running against him. It didn't matter. I wasn't voting for anyone, I was voting against Santorum.

And you contributed to one of the greatest post-election photos in American history

[www.plunderbund.com image 468x325]

God damn, I feel so sorry for 3 out of 5 of these people.

I have something to ask Romney fans. Name me one thing Romney actually stands solidly for?

And "getting more political power at any costs" doesn't count.

Corvus: I have something to ask Romney fans. Name me one thing Romney actually stands solidly for?


Are there any Romney fans?

WTF Indeed:

Perry/Santorum 2012.


Rick Perry aka Richard Perry aka Dick Parry

Dick/Santorum 2012?

ewwwwwwwwwww
NTTAWWT

Santorum! He has to be the next front runner! Gingrich is just so boring.

Because nothing says "Family" like a double-divorcee.