Thursday Open Thread [12.8.11]
Kalle Mattson – Thick As Thieves (Official Video) from Kevin Parry on Vimeo.
More Gingrich dominance:
A new Quinnipiac poll in Florida shows Newt Gingrich way ahead of the Republican primary field with 35% support, followed by Mitt Romney at 22% and no other candidate above 8 percent.
In a head-to-head match up, Gingrich crushes Romney 52% to 34%.
New CNN/Time polls show Newt Gingrich leading in three of the first four states voting in the Republican presidential nomination process and within striking distance in the fourth.
Iowa: Gingrich 33%, Romney 20%, Paul 17%, Perry 9%, Bachmann 7%, Santorum 5%, Huntsman 1%.
New Hampshire: Romney 35%, Gingrich 26%, Paul 17%, Huntsman 8%, Bachmann 3% Perry 2%, Santorum 2%
South Carolina: Gingrich 43%, Romney 20%, Perry 8%, Bachmann 6%, Paul 6%, Santorum 4%, Huntsman 1%.
Florida: Gingrich 48%, Romney 25%, Paul 5%, Bachmann 3%, Huntsman 3%, Perry 3%, Santorum 1%
The White House is not conceding that by focusing on Mr. Romney, it aimed its initial attacks at the wrong opponent. But in taking on Mr. Gingrich as well, it is underscoring its determination to play an active role in the opposing party’s primary.
“Look, for the longest time, Gingrich was not really a factor in this race, he was left for dead at the checkout counter at Tiffany’s,” said David Axelrod, a chief adviser to the president’s re-election bid. “Now he is resurgent and he could be the nominee.”
The jabs at Mr. Gingrich are one part gleeful mischief-making and one part serious due diligence. Democrats have dusted off old opposition research files on him and are digging deeper into his time in Congress and the private sector, even as they study how his candidacy could resonate with voters in important battleground states.
Michael Kazin finds the possibility of Obama v. Gingrich tantalizing:
Gingrich has many flaws, but downplaying his ideological ambitions is not among them. He rose to power by being an articulate, if savage, exponent of a conservative world-view, and his nomination, if it occurred, would represent the triumph of rhetorical boldness over Romney’s cautious artifice. And it would also provide Barack Obama with an opportunity to advocate the progressive principles that inspired him to run for the office in the first place. … Newt would force Obama to talk about his principles and not just his programs—or rather how the latter flows from the former. The debates would sharpen the terms of political discourse in a healthy rather than demagogic fashion: Standing just feet away from the president, Newt would probably refrain from ranting about the Democrat’s “secular socialist agenda,” and Obama would not be able to get away with empty talk about “winning the future.”
If the Republicans nominate Gingrich they will be “all in” on selling a true version of their brutalist worldview to America. The flimsy dodge that was Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” will not return and America will be able to register a clear up or down vote on modern Republicanism.
During his Press briefing today, Obama was asked how he would respond to Republicans’ claims that his foreign policy is based on appeasement. His response: “Go ask Osama Bin Laden ” . A tweet sent out (on Daily Kos) suggestes Bin Laden to debate Gaddafi on whether Obama practices appeasement. Too bad he didn’t land on an aircraft carrier with a Mission Accomplished banner, as that would strike fear in the hearts of our enemies.
That “Go ask Bin Laden” quote hits the GOP yellow elephants square in the nads.
Obama showing his leadership, honesty, and commitment to women’s reproductive freedom all in one sentence:
“With respect to Plan B, I did not get involved in the process,” Obama told reporters during a White House briefing. “This was a decision that was made by Kathleen Sebelius.”
Yeah. Staying out of that decision didn’t make much sense. It isn’t as if pro-life RWNJ are going to suddenly vote for him because he kept plan B behind the counter.
And making the right decision might have given him some more credibility with young voters, especially young women.
Well he only needs to have more credibility than Newt. But yeah. Backing out of this decision was weak.
Newt thinks Ryan’s plan is Right Wing Social Engineering. He is in favor of the mandate for health care. Climate change with Nancy and Gore. Amnesty for illegals. Even though he has flipped on these and others this is what he truly believes.That is why as a progressive he doesn’t scare me