Michigan was a Victory for Santorum

Although Santorum officially lost this past Tuesday in Michigan, in many ways it was actually a win. It is now being reported by the Associated Press that Rick and Mittens both won 15 delegates in the state of Michigan. Santorum was only three percentage points behind Romney in the popular election, and received the same number of delegates.

So how is this a win?

As Rick pointed out at a recent rally I attended in Powell, Tennessee:

This is a big win for us. We went into his backyard. He spent a fortune, money he had no intention of spending, and we came out there with the same number of delegates he does. We are in great shape going into this election. We are excited about what's going to happen on Super Tuesday.

Romney barely squeaked by with a popular victory in his birth state. Rick nearly beat him on a shoestring budget. Remember, no one ever expected Rick to get this far. A few months ago he was running far behind candidates that have now dropped out of the race. Rick Santorum is the ultimate underdog.

This Tuesday, March 6th, is Super Tuesday. Ultimately, it is delagates that count. This Tuesday over 400 delegates between ten states (including our own great state of Tennessee) are up for grabs. Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Vermont are also voting for the GOP nominee.

Rick Santorum will do very well in Tennessee if the polls are accurate. However, often the polls are not accurate, and we should not presume he will win. If you're like me you voted early. If you haven't, get off your butt on Tuesday and go cast your vote! Encourage your friends and family to go vote too.

If they are undecided, remind them that under Obama the real unemployment rate is around 15%. Remind them that under Obama gas prices are higher than ever. Remind them that our defense budget is the first thing the President always cuts. Remind them how he and his Democrat majority in Congress shoved Obamacare down our throats, and that he wants to pass more mammoth government programs. Remind them that he's doing everything he can to make sure the United States is not energy independent.

Then remind them that Rick Santorum is the polar opposite of Barack Obama. Rick is a strong social conservative and a devoted family man. At one point a few months ago, he even took a break from campaigning to be with his sick daughter. He has fought, and continues to fight, for freedom of religion and the rights of the unborn. He also has a great economic plan to strengthen our nation financially. Among other things, Rick plans to repeal Obamacare and replace it with market based healthcare innovation that works. He wants to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitutiom that would cap government spending at 18% of GDP. Rick wants to reform the tax code and the EPA, and eliminate agriculture and energy subsidies. I encourage you to read his plan for yourself.

Here's another thought. If underdog Rick Santorum can almost beat wealthy Mitt Romney in his own birth state on a shoestring budget, just imagine how much better he might do with a little more financial support. If you can spare, donate to his campaign today.

The heat and the fight is on (Yes your vote counts)

The media spin of supposed inevitability of the Frontrunner has already begun after the Frontrunner just barely survived in Michigan last night. A serious look at the map does not show us inevitability, but shows precisely what I predicted here yesterday, a delegate split out of Michigan. Indeed, had it not been for the vote in Oakland County, where the Frontrunner grew up, the Frontrunner would likely not have "won" at all.

Now comes Tennessee's turn, and while polls have consistently shown a lead for Rick Santorum, it is important to remember that the money and power of this State are behind the Frontrunner, and if it appears that the Frontrunner will do badly here, he may rely on Ron Paul to do his dirtywork of undercutting Rick's votes, or perhaps even try and throw the State to Newt Gingrich, not to help Newt, just to hurt Rick.

The political holy war over the next week will be in the State of Ohio. No Republican has ever won the Presidency without carrying Ohio, so it is very important for any potential Republican nominee to show that they are capable of winning there. Failure to do so brings the viability of a candidate into very serious question, so Ohio is a must-win for both Rick Santorum and the Frontrunner. If you think the ads and the blanket campaigning has been a sight to behold here in Tennessee, it will be a hundred times more intense in Ohio over the next seven days.

Former Ohio Lt. Governor, U.S. Senator, and current Attorney General Mike DeWine withdrew his support as a Romney delegate so that he could join Rick's team. (Photo: beta.wosu.org/Mandie Trimble)


Rick has said that he is relying on Washington State (which votes Saturday), Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Ohio to propel him on in the race for the Republican nomination. That makes Tennessee not only important, but a must-win for Rick (not for the Frontrunner), and the opposition knows it. We're in the primary homestretch, and we can win this thing! We can't afford to let up now. Every phone call, every door knocked on, every friend reached out to, every person driven to the polls, every sign, every minute, and every vote matters. After this primary, none of us will ever be able to say "my vote doesn't count."

Game on for nomination...

Though Rick Santorum didn't pull out a victory in either of yesterday's primaries, it is important to recognize the long odds of him winning either of those states, and the fact that this contest ain't over yet . . . Game on for Super Tuesday! The Long and Winding Republican Road | The Weekly Standard:

In short, GOP voters feel free to believe that the long and winding road on which they have embarked will more likely lead to the doors of the White House than would a short, straight, pundit-sanctioned path

Santorum and the Silence of the Shams

David Catron on why Santorum is the only candidate seriously criticizing Obamacare The American Spectator : Santorum and the Silence of the Shams:

Thus, Santorum is a veritable voice crying in the wilderness about what Krauthammer calls Obamacare's "constitutional trifecta." Meanwhile, the other GOP presidential candidates confine their opposition to sporadic and formulaic calls for repeal that not only lack passion but cause one to wonder if they are merely faking it for the cameras.

The Frontrunner uses a tactic from four years ago

The last day of early voting in Tennessee's presidential primary (note: if you have a chance to get out and pick Rick before your local early voting polling station closes tonight, please do so) also happens to be the day of one of the most critical primaries of the season so far-Michigan. This State was supposed to be a "gimmie" for the Frontrunner. He was born and raised there, his father was Governor there, and he is supposed to know the local lingo. This Michigan supporter of the Frontrunner admits, however, that the Frontrunner has been away from Michigan too long for his so-called roots to make much of a difference, even admitting that the younger generation could care less about the Frontrunner's family name.




 The Frontrunner seems to know he has a problem, because he has resorted to a tactic which he first used in 2008-whining like a spoiled rich kid who doesn't get his way. In 2008, Romney whined like a baby whose candy had been taken away after the West Virginia State Republican Convention voted for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee instead of Romney. Instead of congratulating Huckabee like a man, Romney blamed John McCain because the few McCain delegates in West Virginia opted to vote for Huckabee rather than hold up their State's nominating process indefinitely.I discussed the Frontrunner's whiny child persona in this Super Tuesday 2008 podcast with Adam Graham, Ken Marrero, Warner Todd Huston, and John McJunkin. My description begins at 21:05 and ends at 23:26.

One possible scenario being thrown around that could happen in Michigan tonight is a delegate split. Michigan's delegates are awarded by congressional district and there are 14 congressional districts in Michigan. There is some talk that if Rick can take at least seven of those districts, he will walk out of Michigan with half of that State's delegates regardless of the final results.

You can join Rick Santorum's Idaho State coordinator, Adam Graham, along with me (David Oatney, and maybe a few other guests) as we break down the results from Michigan and Arizona in a live podcast beginning at 9:30pm Eastern and 8:30pm Central time tonight. We'll talk about what these results mean for Rick's campaign and where the race for the Republican nomination goes from here.

Drudge in the Dregs Again

Drudge in the Dregs Again:

Socialized medicine is being not-so-covertly foisted on the American people—a policy which, if allowed to stand, will functionally end the United States of America as a constitutional republic founded on natural individual rights. The unfunded obligations of Social Security alone constitute an $18 trillion sinkhole—larger than the current, irredeemable national debt. The nation’s independent regulatory agencies are usurping congressional legislative authority, and slipping socialist violations of property rights and globalist subversions of American sovereignty in under every door. The President is apologizing to, and begging for forgiveness from, people who are murdering American citizens in cold blood because someone burned a copy of the Koran which was being used to transfer covert messages between enemy prisoners. And Mitt Romney says the defining issue of the 2012 election concerns “who can strengthen the economy.” Is it any wonder he is the Establishment’s pick?

Santorum skewering Liberal sacred cows

It was both painful and pleasurable to watch Santorum's whole 2/26/12 "This Week" interview. "Painful," because I resent the spiteful, condescending questioning of Conservatives by Liberal "journalists." But it is "pleasurable" to observe the Left's indignation that someone would question bedrocks of Liberalism like "higher education is the answer" and the notion of "separation of church and state." See Santorum Doubles Down On Education Remarks: Liberal ‘Indoctrination’ Is Encouraged At Many Colleges and Santorum Explains Why JFK’s Speech On Religion & Politics Makes Him Want To ‘Throw Up’. But I wish that Santorum would at least half the time just laugh at their whiny incredulity . . . Entire interview HERE.

On bailouts and robocalls . . .

I was able to hear a part of Nashville-based talk radio host Steve Gill's criticism of Rick Santorum's campaign this morning for a robocall in Michigan. Santorum robo call to Democrats: Send a message to Romney – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs:

The Santorum robo call attempts to rally Democrats with a reference to Romney’s now well-known opposition to the bailout for U.S. automakers.

“Romney supported the bailout for his billionaire buddies but opposed the auto bailout. That was a slap in the face to every Michigan worker,” the robo call adds. It ends with the line: “Paid for by Rick Santorum.”

Michigan’s primary is open to all voters. For weeks, liberal bloggers have called on Democrats to cross over Tuesday to support Santorum as a way to damage Romney’s chances of capturing the GOP nomination.

I didn't hear all of Gill's argument, but this call attacks Romney for his seeming hypocrisy in supporting bail outs in some circumstances (when Wall Streeters come calling) and not for others (when the more blue collar Auto industry comes calling). That seems fair to me.

Rick Santorum opposed BOTH bailouts (here), and that consistency, and courage is a positive character quality. UPDATE: I realized after making this post, that Newt Gingrich publicly acknowledged Steve Gill (along with Fred Thompson) at his rally in Nashville on Monday. I'm assuming that being mentioned in the same breath as Thompson means that Gill is supporting Gingrich. So, for anyone who heard all of the Steve Gill segment related to the Michigan robocalls, did Gill acknowledge that he is a supporter of Gingrich?

Willard Mitt can't run from his past

Normally, I wouldn't share my daily Examiner column in this space as a primary source, because this blog exists to help elect Rick Santorum, not to promote my column. However, much has been said within conservative circles in recent days about why the Frontrunner has failed to "close the door" with conservatives among the base of Republican Party. Today, I posited that a big part of the reason is that religious conservatives matter much more than the so called "party establishment" seems to think.

The Frontrunner should not be discounted as a candidate because of his Mormon faith, and to do so would be a profoundly un-American position. However, it is quite reasonable to hold any candidate accountable for their positions based on the tenets of the faith that they profess, and the Frontrunner has shifted positions on social issues repeatedly depending on who his political audience happened to be.


 


This 2008 McCain ad successfully highlighted the problems with the Frontrunner's flip-flops.

It is precisely because so many of us cannot pinpoint where the Frontrunner really stands on almost anything that he is not the wonderboy that so many people at the top of the party heap have spent so much time leading us to believe. Does this look like enthusiasm for a candidate to you?

  This was an address to the Detroit Economic Club and rally for the Frontrunner at Ford Field in Detroit. The Frontrunner's people apparently really believed they could bring in enough people to make the place look full, or at least make it appear as though the voters gave a flying flip. Ego, anyone?

If you want to win the votes of conservative people, it might help if you behave and act as if you are one of them.

Rick Santorum, the American Taliban?

On This Week, Rick Santorum told George Stephanopoulos that John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech on the separation between church and state made him want to throw up.

In the particular statement Rick referred to, JFK said, "I believe in an America where separation of church and state is absolute..." Not surprisingly, extreme elements of the left-wing media are spinning Rick's statements to make him sound like a fundamentalist bigot, who wants to transform the United States into a Christian theocracy.

I found an article in the Huffington Post with the inflammatory headline, "Santorum: Separation of Church and State 'Makes Me Want To Throw Up.' In a another article, with a similarly twisted title, the author quotes Ibraham Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic relations as saying, "It seems (candidates like Rick Santorum) are not really opposed to the separation of church and state--as long as it's their church." This is a little odd, considering Hooper once said, "I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future..."

It seems as though the left-wing media will stop at nothing to smear anyone who opposes them. The truth is irrelevant. Only political victory counts. Personally, I care more about the truth than partisan politics.

Rick Santorum's political enemies are doing everything they can to discredit him. Since he is a man of integrity, they have to lie to make him look bad. After hearing or reading Rick's full comments, no clear thinking person could ever say the former senator was speaking against the separation of church and state. What Rick actually told Stephanopoulos was,

"I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country. This is the First Amendment. The First Amendment says the free excercise of religion. That means bringing everybody, people of faith and no faith, into the public square."

Clearly, Rick does believe in the separation of church and state; he just doesn't agree that this separation is absolute. This is hardly a controversial idea, since sessions of congress open with prayer, the military has chaplains, and important religious figures like Billy Graham and the Dalai Lama have visited our nation's presidents.

Separation of church and state has never been absolute, nor ought it be. Religious movements have been a powerful influence in our nation for good, without dictating government policy in a theocratic way. English Separatists, the Pilgrims, came to the shores of Plymouth Rock to practice their faith freely, without government oppression. Quakers led the movement to abolish slavery. One of this nation's greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister who led an explicitly religious fight for civil rights.

The very notions of liberty and the cry for independence from Great Britain originated in the pulpits of Reformed churches. The English journalist G.K. Chesterton wrote, "The United States is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed. That creed is set forth with dogmatic and even theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence." He was referring to the familiar words,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...

As Rick would point out, although our highest law is the Constitution, the Constitution without the Declaration is like peanut-butter without jelly. The rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are endowed by our Creator God. Rick Santorum stands up for these rights, while opposing the new "rights" that government has given: abortion and entitlements, now including government-mandated healthcare.

That is why the left hates him, lies about him, and tries to crush him with their propaganda machine. He stands for everything they hate, while standing against everything their hero, Barack Obama, stands for. Well, to borrow a line from Herman Cain, "How's that workin' out for ya?"

If you want higher gas prices, higher unemployment, higher taxes, a weaker military, and more government, I suppose you'll vote for Barack Obama. But if you're like me, you'll vote for Rick Santorum because he sticks up for the rights of the unborn, he sticks up for religious liberty, and he isn't running for "pastor-in-chief." These are all things this pastor finds encouraging.

And he is not just a strong social conservative, but has a solid economic plan to help the United States prosper once again.

He stands in sharp contrast to our current President. If you're sick of Barack Obama's hope and change, please support Rick Santorum with your vote in your state's primary or caucus. Get the word out among your friends that Rick Santorum can win the GOP nomination, and beat Barack Obama. If we support Rick, we might get our country back in November.

Rick Santorum Headlines the Chattanooga Tea Party Liberty Forum

Rick Santorum headlined the Chattanooga Tea Party's Liberty Forum, held at Abba's House at Central Baptist Church in Hixson, TN. I attended the event with my wife and in-laws, and I thought I would share some of my thoughts and experiences of the event.

We arrived about 1:30 PM; Rick was scheduled to speak at 2:30. The first thing we saw as we pulled in to the parking lot at Abba's House was Occupy Chattanooga out front on the side walk, holding up signs in support of abortion and against Rick Santorum. They chanted, "Tell me what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like!" and offered anyone who passed by condoms.

As we entered and sat down in the auditorium Michael Patrick Leahy of the National Tea Party Coalition took the stage, followed by state Senator Bo Watson, who gave a rousing speech about the 10th amendment. The next scheduled speaker was Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, however the headliner showed up a little earlier than expected and took the stage instead (Congressman Fleishmann ended up speaking after Santorum left).

Rick Santorum was extremely well received by the Tea Partiers present, and spoke for an hour. Rick had a lot of great things to say, but several comments stood out to me. Rick said that, "True happiness comes from doing God’s will. It comes not from doing what you want to do, but doing what you ought to do." He spoke on his experiences fighting against entitlements and for the right to life of the unborn. "It’s one thing to be pro-life; it’s another thing to go out and fight for life. I have fought for life.”

An awkward moment occurred at the end of Santorum's speak, when the host interrupted him and told him the speech was over. This took Rick aback, as well as most in the audience, who were eating up everything the presidential candidate said. It is still unclear to me why they did not just let him finish his speech--whether it had to do with the Chattanooga Tea Party's schedule, Rick's schedule, or something else. Many (including my father-in-law) thought that the host was a bit rude to Rick.

Seeing Rick in person only more deeply confirmed my support for him. He showed himself to be a sincere conservative, and not a "fake" as some of his opponents have claimed. I believe he stands out from the other candidates, especially in his consistent stand for pro-life issues and religious liberty. Some in the media have tried to paint him as a bigot or a theocrat, but he has made it clear that he is running for President, not "Pastor in chief." In the most recent GOP debate in Arizona, he spoke knowledgeably, citing scientific studies which confirmed that out of wedlock births were detrimental to children and society. He said, "We have a society… the increasing number of children being born out of wedlock in America, teens who are sexually active. The left gets so upset: ‘Oh, look at him talking about these things.’ Here is the difference between me and the left — and they don’t get this — just because I’m talking about it doesn’t mean I want a government program to fix it. That’s what they do. That’s not what we do.”

Please tell your friends, your family, and your churches, that Rick Santorum is the man to beat Barack Obama in 2012. If you have cash to spare, please support his campaign with a financial donation.

Welcome Jared Abbott . . .

TNforSantorum Blog welcomes Jared Abbott as a new contributor to the blog. Check back often to hear his perspective . . .

"Where are the women?" indeed . . .

The Left's presumption (and "sexism," ironically) when it comes to women really grates on me, but apparently a candidate doesn't have to be squishy on so-called "social issues" to attract female support. Rick Santorum winning more support from Republican women. Read more at Slate here . . .

Hamblen County picks Rick

Hamblen County Lincoln/Reagan Day Straw Poll

                                 (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Rick Santorum  41%
Mitt Romney       37%
Newt Gingrich    18%
Ron Paul              4%

More than 300 people cast a ballot. Many thanks to the Hamblen County Republican Party for a successful straw poll, electricity problems and all.

Get out early to pick Rick

Just in case you live in Tennessee and you might have forgotten, you don't have to wait until March 6th to cast your vote, you can vote early until February 28th-that's this Tuesday. All 95 counties allow registered voters in those counties to cast their ballots early at your county election commission office. In addition, many counties have opened other satellite locations where voters can come and participate in the early voting process. In counties such as Knox, Hamilton, Johnson, Sullivan, Davidson, and Shelby, there are several early voting locations to choose from, and many of our suburban and rural counties have also adopted an early voting program that encompasses more than one early voting site.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Election Administrator Mark Goins say they are encouraging early voting this year, and they invite Tennesseans to contact their county election offices to find out where to cast their votes early. You won't want to forget that photo ID as part of Tennessee's new voter identification law, and remember that if you don't drive, even if your ID card is expired so long as it is a Tennessee-issued identification with your picture, you are good to cast your vote, whether early or on Primary Day itself.

Yesterday we talked about a couple of important and fun straw polls that Rick's supporters could participate in. Straw polls are extremely enjoyable and sometimes they can even be politically important, but no poll is more important than the one that really counts, and thanks to the sacrifice of so many of our veterans and men and women still in uniform, that poll is absolutely free-all you need to do is show up-and if you can't do that, you can even vote absentee.

If you are familiar with Tennessee politics, you know that since early voting has been introduced here, it has been a real factor in our electoral process. I've seen elections decided on the early votes alone, and we've seen some of our news media able to successfully call elections based on the return of the early vote, which in most counties in Tennessee are always the first votes to be counted. If you vote early in this Presidential Primary, your votes could help show us quickly who the delegates go to on Primary Night.

I've already picked Rick! You can too, if you haven't already-find out where to go tomorrow (Saturday), Monday, or Tuesday by contacting your county election commission. If you can't vote early, remember to pick Rick Santorum at your local precinct on March 6th.

Ron selling out so that Rand can reap the profits?

If you watched the debate the other night you noticed that the Frontrunner wasn't the only candidate throwing unsubstantiated half-truths and epithets such as "fake" at Rick Santorum. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, the so-called libertarian in the race, was leading the attack in a supporting role, attempting, it would seem, to assist the Frontrunner in his campaign against Rick. This was a strange spectacle to observe from a man who hasn't even pretended to like the Frontrunner-until now.

It seems like a strange alliance-the libertarian and the pseudo-Democrat-two people who, within the Republican coalition, could not be further apart ideologically. Why on earth would Ron Paul want to help the Frontrunner, unless he thought he could get something out of it?

...Or at least that a member of his family might.

Matt Lewis of The Daily Caller says Paul hasn't really gone after the Frontrunner, while he routinely attacks more conservative candidates such as Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, and now, Rick Santorum. Ron Paul's attacks aren't helping him in the polls in the least, but the one person they do seem to help when he lobs them is the Frontrunner.

What has the Frontrunner promised Ron Paul for his backhanded help, assistance which literally contradicts everything Ron Paul purports to believe? Lewis says the promise may have been to Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), and that Romney or his campaign may quietly be dangling the Vice Presidency in front of Rand Paul in return for his father's delegates, should the Frontrunner need them to win the nomination.

Conservative radio host Mark Levin says that Ron Paul is acting as the Frontrunner's wingman so that Rand can get the number two spot.


Mark Levin says Ron Paul is acting as Willard Mitt's wingman in order to get something out of it for Rand

If our friends the Paulies had the kind of principles that so many of them claim to have, they would be outraged at the very thought that their man would sell out to get something for a family member...that would mean that Ron Paul is playing politics and being pragmatic, something the Paulies claim to detest most horribly.

That would make Ron Paul...oh, perish the thought...a FAKE!

Newt backer: 5 reasons to support Santorum

My grandmother would have probably called this a left-handed compliment. 5 Reasons to Support Rick Santorum - John Hawkins:

Even though I do like and respect Rick Santorum, I've already endorsed Newt Gingrich and don’t plan on changing over to Team Santorum. Still, Santorum is tops in the national polls, has a chance to pull off some big pre-Super Tuesday wins, and he could end up as the nominee. If that does happen, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. In fact, I have no qualms about saying that if it comes down to it, Rick Santorum would be a much preferable nominee to Mitt Romney.

Here is the overview:
1) Santorum is the most prominent socially conservative politician in America. . . .
2) Santorum isn't JUST a social conservative. . . .
3) Santorum didn't blow the big issues of the last few years. . . .
4) Santorum isn't going to get to D.C. and lose his nerve. . . .
5) Santorum is more electable than Mitt.
(follow this link to read his rationale)

Can you pick Rick in a straw poll?

If you want to know a way that you can show Rick Santorum some Tennessee support that might help turnout among the Republican base on March 6th, you can show up and participate in one of two straw polls coming up in the next few days (if you have the funds and can spare them, by all means vote in both).

The first straw poll will be taken at the Hamblen County Republican Party Lincoln/Reagan Day Dinner, which will be held tomorrow night, February 24th, 2012 at 6:30pm at First Presbyterian Church, located at 600 West Main Street in Morristown. Tickets are $25/each, and can be obtained by calling Hamblen County GOP Chairman Paul Chapman at 423-312-2027. You can also get tickets at the door provided that they aren't sold out.

The second straw poll opportunity will be the Tennessee Conservative Union's Reagan Day Dinner and Southern Conservative Caucus. This important event will be on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Knoxville. It's quite a bit more pricey than the Morristown straw poll at $100 a ticket, but the food is always fabulous at this annual who's who of East Tennessee conservatism (fried chicken, collards, hominy, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fat and calories et. al.), and a big part of that hundred bucks a head is going to pay for Herman Cain's speaking fee. If you can spare the time, travel, and funds for either or both of these straw polls, please show up and pick Rick!

Vote for Willard Mitt or you're fired

The Frontrunner's campaign in Michigan truly must be getting desperate. After refusing (as did pretty much the entire GOP presidential field) to participate in a debate moderated by Donald Trump with the understanding that such a forum would be nothing more than a publicity stunt for the Donald and thus a political joke, the Frontrunner was keen to revel in the Donald's endorsement and it wasn't a joke as long as he got the endorsement. Now the Frontrunner is dragging the Donald out for a robocall in Michigan.



I don't know how you, dear reader, would feel if you picked up the telephone to hear Donald Trump tell you about how he's "tired of Rick Santorum," but it would tell me that the Frontrunner can't get any endorsements that actually matter to a Republican. Donald Trump is a man, love him or hate him, who is primarily concerned with his own ratings and popularity, and he couldn't care less whether a Republican is elected in November or whether we are sentenced to four more years of  Barack Hussein Obama, so long as he keeps raking in the cash. One can't blame him for this, but we can say that the welfare of the country isn't as big a concern to him as the portfolio and cash flow of Donald Trump.

The voters of Michigan likely see that as well.

The Effrontery of Rick Santorum - Rich Lowry - National Review Online

More ink on the roots of Left-wing (and squishy-wing), knee-jerk attacks on Rick Santorum: The Effrontery of Rick Santorum - Rich Lowry - National Review Online.

All together now, "Liberalism doesn't work"

Mystification and Triumphalism - WSJ.com:

Here is a prediction: Even if Rick Santorum is not the next president, and even if Barack Obama crushes him in the general election (the latter, though not the former, is a big if), social conservatism will continue to grow in size and importance over the next couple of decades. That is to say, if Santorum loses, it will be in part because he is ahead of his time.

The social dislocation caused by feminism and the sexual revolution demands a political response, and so far the left has nothing to offer apart from bankrupting the country with more entitlements.

Also, from a Rich Lowry piece at National Review Online:

Santorum conceives of his social views as a badly needed support for economic aspiration. It’s no accident that the Republican candidate most committed to the traditional family and associated virtues is also the one who talks most about the struggles of the working class. He frequently cites research from the Brookings Institution showing that simply getting a high-school diploma, getting a job, and getting married before having children — the so-called success sequence — are powerful tools against poverty.

Of "phony theology" and phony outrage . . .

In yesterday's "Morning Jolt" from Jim Geraghty at National Review Online:

Here's how Santorum is playing in Michigan this morning:

Over the weekend, Rick Santorum spoke of President Barack Obama's "phony theology," and, on Monday, he talked about "a culture that has radically changed," saying we need to "rebuild the family and the church." With the Michigan and Arizona primaries a week from Tuesday, Santorum -- who polls still show to be leading nationally and in Michigan -- has increasingly turned to invoking faith and spirituality on the campaign trail, making comments that could alienate moderate conservative less concerned with social policies but motivate more passionate believers. In Lowell just east of Grand Rapids, 74-year-old Virginia Kimmer doesn't want a president forcing others to follow -- or violate -- their religious beliefs but she still wants "a man in the seat of power . . . who would be a fundamentally religious person." She's leaning toward Santorum.

But also this morning, the Wall Street Journal notes:

In the latest indication of how social issues are rising in step with Mr. Santorum, the former senator sparked a debate with Democrats over the weekend when he said some of President Barack Obama's views are based on "some phony theology . . . not a theology based on the Bible."

The boss reminds us of the full context:

The comments came at an event in Columbus shortly after the former senator from Pennsylvania said efficacy and safety improvements in oil drilling technology are considered by the president to be "a dangerous technology." "It doesn't fit his pattern of trying to drive down consumption, trying to drive up your cost of transportation to accomplish his political science goal of reducing carbon dioxide," he said. Obama, he continued, is not motivated by "your quality of life." "It's not about your job. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology," Santorum said. "Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology. But no less a theology."

John J. Pitney reminds us:

It's worth noting that political figures from both parties have sometimes referred to their opponents' belief system as a "theology." Several weeks ago, White House press secretary Jay Carney said: "Most of my adult life, the Republican theology has been tax cuts for everyone are the highest priority."

The right thing to do

Excuse, if you please, our dust. While other candidates are busying themselves spending lots of money from SuperPACS and major campaign funders, we are waging a fight for delegates on a shoestring budget with volunteers consisting of everyday people. Everyone who is working on the Tennessee for Santorum website, blog, Facebook page,and other media has volunteered their time and energy and, in some cases, even paid for domain names, webspace, and even signs and other campaign materials. Each person is doing this because for some reason, they believe in Rick Santorum.

Some people are a part of Senator Santorum's effort here in Tennessee because they see him as the only chance to prevent someone being nominated who they do not believe adequately or accurately reflects a conservative voice in the Republican Party. Other people have gotten on board Senator Santorum's Tennessee campaign because of his strong commitment to the sanctity of human life, and the dignity of every human being. Still others appreciate Rick Santorum's consistent opposition to the TARP bailouts. Whatever the reason, all have volunteered to help because it is the right thing to do.

There is reason for hope. Rasmussen tells us that that other Republican candidate--you know, the Frontrunner--is polling six points behind Barack Obama in a national one-on-one matchup. Both Rasmussen and Quinnipiac put Rick Santorum within the margin of error against Obama--that would be a statistical tie. Who is supposedly more electable?

Has it occurred to some of the talking heads who declare the Frontrunner so electable that people seek a candidate of principle, one who is, as Rick Santorum himself has said, not a conservative alternative to the Frontrunner, but a conservative alternative to Barack Obama?