For Santorum, a perfect storm (Santorum for President?)

[fencesitter]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15897333.htm

By Tom Ferrick Jr.
Inquirer Columnist

In these, the final days of the campaign, Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) is traveling the state giving what's been dubbed his "Gathering Storm" stump speech.

********

It's the reason why, in recent weeks, Bob Casey Jr. has widened his lead over the incumbent, who has problems with the electorate that transcend his party label.

Santorum is out of time, out of money, and out of luck. The senator is going to lose and he knows it.

So why go around the state talking about the manifold dangers of radical Islam and calling Americans wusses?

I asked myself that question the other week, when Santorum appeared before this paper's editorial board and gave the same speech.

The thought struck me: He is not running for the United States Senate. He is running for president of the United States.

*******

Judging from the poll numbers, the voters are not buying that line. They see Santorum for what he is: a firebrand conservative ideologue.

Just the kind of guy liberal Democrats love to hate.

But also just the kind of guy red-meat, right-tilting Republicans love in presidential primary elections.

*******

<shudder>

[NanceGreggs]

1. If the GOP plan to run this idiot in '08 ...

... we can start planning the Inaugural festivities for a Democratic
President right now.

[Renew Deal]

3. We can start measuring the tablecloths in the White House.

:silly:

[yellowcanine]

2. At one time I would have said "Good", but not after Reagan and Bush II.

This country is just dumb enought to elect him. So no, let him crash and burn in the Republican primaries if he is silly enough to think he has a shot at it.

[NanceGreggs]

4. It's true the GOP voters have traditionally voted for ...

... babbling idiots. But after Bush II, I think even THEY have had enough of a dummy president.

Good God, can you imagine Santorum in the debates? Bush needed a 'wire' in the debates to feed him lines and info. Santorum would require an entire satelite dish on his head.

[yellowcanine]

5. I would rather not take the chance. Who would have thought Bush

would "win" a debate against Gore? Or Reagan would "win" a debate against Carter, for that matter? Presidential debates, as they have been conducted in recent years, do not ferret out ignoramuses. Now if we had something akin to "Question Time" in the British Parliment, you might have a point. Bush II or Santorum WOULD be reduced to babbling idiots under those circumstances.

[NanceGreggs]

6. I don't know what you mean by "rather not take the chance".

They're going to run somebody, aren't they?

Given the choice (which WE don't have, one way or the other), I'd sooner see one of ours go head-to-head with a proven idiot like Ricky than an intelligent, charismatic, articulate GOP candidate.

I also disagree with the premise set out by the author cited in the OP. I don't see the same people who aren't supporting Santorum now suddenly thinking he's their Golden Boy in two years.

Santorum's inane remarks and whacked-out ideas have made his own supporters wince. He is no more reflective of the mainstream GOP voter than Michael Moore is.

Let's not forget that those who voted for Bush II did not base their support on his intelligence, perceived or otherwise. He had charisma; they saw down-home folksiness, a family man, a good Christian - blah, blah. Santorum has NEITHER intelligence nor charm.

Just because Santorum still sees himself as a "presidential hopeful" doesn't mean the average Republican voter sees him in that light.

[yellowcanine]

8. I would rather not take the chance on the short memories of the American

People. I would rather have a Republican win the nomination who would at least have the best interests of the country in mind and be willing to work with Democrats than an idiot like dimson, because the way our election system works nothing is a sure thing. Dimson after all did get elected (well,sort of - too close, anyway, regardless). People forget. I will bet a lot of people have already forgotton that gas was $3 a gallon this summer.

[NanceGreggs]

9. Have a Republican nominee with the interests ...

... of the country in mind? Yes, total agreement there. It wouldn't be as easy a 'win' over an idiot like Santorum (which I was obviously being sarcastic about, because I don't think he's got an iota of a chance of being their nominee).

Ironically, I think the GOP - thanks to the disastrous BushCo years - now have no choice but to come up with someone who CAN show he has the country's interests at heart.

We have gone beyond the point where it's Dems v Repubs; it is now becoming the citizenry v this Administration and its policies.

The GOP can't trot out an '08 nominee who is going to "pick up where Bush left off". With two-thirds of the country now wanting out of Iraq, a stay-the-course ideology won't get them dick. They're going to have to work hard to find a candidate that doesn't totally dis Bush, but, at the same time, doesn't sound anything like him.

Middle-class Republicans are suffering right alongside their Dem neighbours. Many have lost their jobs, their savings, their health coverage, etc. That won't be reversed in the next two years. I know memories can be very short - but the BushCo disaster will still be a reality in '08, not a faint memory.

It's an ill wind, as they say, that doens't blow somebody some good. And the ill wind caused by this Administration and its policies will undoubtedly force the GOP to come up with someone who will appeal to the masses based on an ability to steer the ship of state AWAY from the rocks, not full-speed ahead towards them.

IMHO, though, I think we'll still take the WH back on 2008. I think the GOP voters have had enough of being betrayed by their own party.

[fencesitter]

7. He has one, it's not a dish...

but a halo.

[colonel odis]

10. this country didn't elect bush II. he slithered into office on crooked

balloting and the help of some very powerful people.

i doubt santorum would have people behind him as powerful as bush II had. bush's backers knew there was the opportunity to clean up financially when they got their idiot into office. santorum is merely an idiot without the rich friends bush has.

[AlCzervik]

11. Santorum/Phelps 08'*

*1708