Republicans! Stop Looking for a Messiah!
By Alan Caruba
In 2008 the voters gave the Oval Office to a man who Rush Limbaugh and others mockingly called “the messiah” for his grandiose rhetoric and promises of change. If the first two primaries are any indication, Republican Party voters seem to be looking for their own messiah, a perfect candidate, and no such person exists.
Republicans have to stop seeking their own “messiah” in 2012. Most importantly, the six percent that Rasmussen Reports says are ready to vote for a third party candidate, if one emerges, have got to get their heads screwed on tighter because that’s a margin that could keep Obama in office for four more years. Additionally, Rasmussen reports that 53% believe Mitt Romney is the GOP candidate to defeat Obama.
In recent Wall Street Journal commentary, “Romney Wins but Takes a Beating”, columnist Peggy Noonan wrote “The Iowa results almost perfectly reflect the Republican Party, which, roughly speaking, is split into three parts—libertarians, social conservatives and moderate conservatives,” adding, “there’s no denying the Republicans are in a brawl, and it is becoming ferocious.”
I put the ugly tone of the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries squarely at the feet of Newt Gingrich. Angry, resentful, and eager for revenge over his loss in Iowa, Gingrich was still smarting from the attack ads aimed at him. He revealed an aspect of his personality well known from his days as Speaker of the House in the 1990s.
Rick Santorum did well in Iowa, but he brings a holier-than-thou approach to the campaign with his religion-based approach to various social issues. It’s not so much that I disagree with his positions, but there are a lot of independents who do not necessary go to church every Sunday.
Michele Bachmann’s strident tone didn’t help her much and Rick Perry’s punch-drunk approach to campaigning didn’t either. I worry that Ron Paul will try the third party route. At present, he will never get the nomination and his base is a bunch of boys and girls barely out of their adolescence. No Republican grownup takes Paul’s views seriously, nor should they. Jon Huntsman is a spoiled rich kid, a fellow Mormon, who seems to have a personal grudge against Romney.
Talking about Mormons, I am old enough to recall all the talk about John F. Kennedy having been a Catholic and how that would hurt him. It didn’t. What’s really amazing is that Barack Obama’s long association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a black liberation preacher and one who outspokenly condemned the U.S.A., barely put a dent in his run for the presidency.
As for Mormons, many have served honorably in high office since the days of President Eisenhower. It’s time to get off that hobby horse. If anything, I am greatly relieved that for all the talk of flip-flopping, there has not been a whisper of personal scandal regarding Romney. Compare that, please, to Bill Clinton.
At some point, likely after the South Carolina and Florida primaries, Republicans of all descriptions are going to conclude they have a good candidate in Mitt Romney. The party which has generally been run by white shoe, East Coast elites and a healthy mixture of Texas oilmen, has got to get serious about tearing Barack Obama to bits.
This election is not about finding “another” messiah to lead the nation. It’s about electing—frankly—anyone other than Obama and, hopefully, someone who has demonstrated real executive competence in public office and private enterprise.
In Congress the Republican leadership is elaborately polite in their discourse, but the election will not be won in the Capitol Building. It will be won in 50 States whose population has been taking a beating in a terrible economy made worse by the profligate spending and borrowing of the worst President this nation has ever known. By the time November rolls around, I want them to be mad as hell and it will be the party’s job to make sure that happens.
© Alan Caruba 2012
Comment
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Comment by Cam Vallee on January 9, 2012 at 5:43pm -
I usually agree with what you say Alan but not this time. Romeny is fake. As fake as they come. He would not win the independent voters and talk about baggage by starting with Romneycare. Obama will smoke him. He will not beat Obama.
Gingrich is oustanding. Made enemies in his own party working cross the aisle with Clinton. Gingrich, were I am American would be the one I would be supporting all the way.
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Comment by Morry Markovitz on January 9, 2012 at 5:41pm -
A good article by today's standards, the kind that would have George Washington rolling over in his grave. Washington's Farewell Address is famous for warning against "foreign entanglements," which our situation today proves (once again) was very wise advice. What many don't know is that the MAJOR theme of the Farewell Address was a waring against a 2-party political system.
Given that we've already ignored his advice and have a 2-party system, your article is probably very good advice. However, we shouldn't need it. The polarization and need to fight "for the party" as opposed to other more direct considerations of the national interest is what Washington warned against. The news, the "education" of the public on the candidates, etc etc is all "dumbed down" by our 2-party system. We start out with red and blue or black and white or whatever, and then measure men from there. Party loyalty is a manufactured thing, and intended or not it ends up distracting us from loyalty to our nation and its Constitution. We can see that Obama needs to go. We should be faced with a choice of many individual MEN, not distracted by and limited to the rules of a semi-private club called "the Republicans" OR "the Democrats."
There are many intelligent men. There are few who are also wise. George Washington was one of them.
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Comment by Ronald Sorrells on January 9, 2012 at 5:39pm -
OH YEAH !
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Comment by Ronald Sorrells on January 9, 2012 at 5:38pm
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American Infidel:
I am also voting for Rick Santorum because "He can't walk on water".....but He Worships and Praises THE ONE (Jesus The Christ) that "DID WALK ON WATER" and will return to do greater things.
Rick Santorum is "NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST". Like Sarah & Michele..He belongs to the "sanctified".
Semper Fi,
Ron
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Comment by American Infidel on January 9, 2012 at 5:28pm -
I don't know of anyone looking for a Messiah in a political candidate. If they are looking for a Messiah, period, end of story, then I highly recommend Jesus Christ. He is the One and only. If they are looking for the best candidate for President, I highly recommend Rick Santorum. He is no Messiah, but will do a great job at the helm of our country.
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Comment by Doug Nicholson on January 9, 2012 at 5:26pm -
"It’s about electing—frankly—anyone other than Obama..." ABO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment by Ronald Sorrells on January 9, 2012 at 5:22pm
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Mark:
The Founders of the "Declaration of Independence" & The "Constitution " argued a great deal (among themselves) but once they sought the "Counsel and Guidance of Almighty God" they agreed and were of one accord. We will also come to our conclusion about the "One" that most reflects the "Will of The Constitution" which will be the "One" that is "Most Dependable".
My Candidate also did not run but she is still "engaged in the process" to try to "Right this Wrong Government".
Semper Fi,
Ron
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Comment by Bradley J. Tangen on January 9, 2012 at 5:21pm
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I put the ugly tone of the campaign squarely at the feet of the Romney PACs Mr. Caruba. Gingrich was savaged for three weeks straight not only by those but establishment Republicans who prefer Romney. Romney has revealed an aspect of his personality of putting on a nice face while letting others do the negative campaigning for him. Gingrich, on the other hand, is straightforward. I respect him more.
Tell me why we should vote for a one term governor of a small state whose major legislative accomplishment is Romneycare, who did not know that his pledge to the nation of issuing a 50 state waiver from Obamacare was bogus (it can't take effect until 2017), whose state was only 47 out of 50 in job creation during his tenure, who signed an assault weapons ban, who was AGAINST the Contract with America in 1994 -- probably the greatest conservative accomplishment of the 1990s, who would prefer a VAT tax to the Fair Tax, who is against reform of Social Security etc. etc.
With all due respect, we're not looking for a savior. We're looking for someone who is not a liberal and was more competent than having the Dems being able to say he was just 47 out of 50 in creating jobs for his state.
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Comment by Barbara C. Johnson on January 9, 2012 at 5:16pm -
Michelle Bachmann also had against her the 23 foster children She never explained why she had 23 children who had been removed from their biofamilies. With hundreds of thousands of children taken from their biofamilies across this nation, her pumping her mother-fosterhood as being a good thing was, in fact, a stupid thing. What is more of a shame, not one reporter asked her about this OR OR OR what her income was from that endeavor OR OR OR even raised the problem. The more I heard her, the more she turned me off.
Finished and coming soon is my memoir, Why I Didn't Sleep with Mitt Romney & Other Tales. I was one of several women opposing him in the gubernatorial race in 2002. He used his money against me, too. As a litigator practicing full time during that time, I was "on the ground" only during the month of October. Romney had spent $6 million until I began campaigning. During Oct and the first week of November 2002, he spent another $6 million. I would like to find an agent and publisher who would act very quickly or I'll self-publish it as an ebook. Contact me if you know one: barbjohnson74@gmail.com
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Comment by Judith R. Hannan on January 9, 2012 at 5:13pm
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Newt will get my and, my husbands' , vote. Never Romney!
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