The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Pre-Caucus Night Nap Time

Posted on | January 3, 2012 | 22 Comments

The rented Mustang convertible I got for the price of a Toyota

JOHNSTON, Iowa
Just got back from the Stony Creek Inn, across the highway from my hotel, where they’re setting up for tonight’s big victory celebration for Rick Santorum. Just so you know: Election Night events are always billed in advance as “victory” parties, because nobody wants to send out invitations to a “Hey, We Might Finish Second” party.

If Santorum finishes third here — let’s say, 19% — that’s a huge victory for a campaign that was in single digits in all the polls two weeks ago. And by finishing third, Santorum would place ahead of three candidates (Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann) who have out-spent him many times over.

If Santorum finishes second — say, 22% — that would be enormous, since it would indicate he’s out-organized the fanatical supporters of Ron Paul.

And if . . .

We’re not even going to go there, OK? I’m ruling out any such possibility. Everybody knows Mitt Romney is going to win this thing, even though he’ll win it with less than 30% of the vote. But if somehow the impossible happens, all bets are off.

When I arrived at the Stony Creek Inn, Senator Santorum and his family were on their way out to visit Des Moines Christian School for one of their final pre-caucus appearances. He was cheerful, but obviously weary from the grueling pace of this all-out campaign blitz of the past two weeks. I’m amazed at his stamina. This is wearing me out, and I’m just blogging about the campaign.

Some quick news before I lay down for my nap:

Anyway, that’s enough to do you for a few hours. Like Rick Santorum’s final surge here in Iowa, my expenses on this trip have exceeded expectations. So reader contributions to the Shoe Leather Fund are, as always sincerely appreciated.

They’re setting up a big party over at the Stony Creek Inn and, because of limited space, the press filing center will actually be in the hotel bar, which is called “The Loose Moose.”

That seems somehow ironically appropriate, doesn’t it?





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Category: Election 2012, Fear and Loathing in Iowa, Iowa, Shoe Leather Fund

Comments

22 Responses to “Pre-Caucus Night Nap Time”

  1. Adjoran
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:25 pm

    Santorum’s nephew is 19 and stupid, as are all 19 year olds.  Witness the insane repetition of Paulian mantras, like “follow the Constitution,” when most of what Paul calls “unconstitutional” is quite clearly constitutional by any rational judgment – and much of it has already been so ruled by the only competent authority set forth by the Constitution to decide such matters, the Supreme Court.

    This child wasn’t even born when the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Empire collapsed.  Obviously the product of a leftist agit-prop “education,” he doesn’t realize that if Paul’s nutty isolationism were our policy after  WWII, he would be living in Soviet America today.

    As for Brooks:  Santorum needs to stop pressing his trousers.  Brooks is all about the crease.

  2. Nicedebs
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:28 pm

    I’m almost tempted to drive up there to cover Santorum’s win with you from the Loose Moose.

  3. Anonymous
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:35 pm

    What happens at the Loose Moose, stays at the Loose Moose.

    IYKWIMAITYD.

  4. Pat Austin
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:40 pm

    Are you not linking me because I’m one of those “desperate” Rick Perry supporters?  LOL!  It’s ok.  I’ve been linking you anyway! 

    I can’t imagine the streets of Des Moines being safe with you in THAT CAR.  OMG!

    Godspeed.

  5. Anonymous
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:58 pm

    I’m not sure if anyone should really care (it is the NYT after all) but Nate Silver thinks Santorum could pull an upset. 
    http://tinyurl.com/7d2qu64

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  7. Dana
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:31 pm

    Our esteemed host wrote:

    Speaking of Twitter, Senator Santorum’s daughter Elizabeth is on Twitter and you should follow her, because she re-Tweeted me, which is almost as cool as getting re-Tweeted by Alyssa Milano.

    Uhhh, no, it’s not.  I’ll take anything from Alyssa Milano.

    Besides, Alyssa is a lot more likely to put out.  🙂

  8. M. Thompson
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:33 pm

    Would much rather be caught in public with Miss Santorum.  Won’t have to worry about compromising footage as much.

  9. Quartermaster
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:35 pm

    LOL! perhaps you’d like to expound upon, and quote, where the constitution gave the SCOTUS the authority to determine what is constitutional and what is not.

    I have tos eriously question your constitutional judgment as about 98+% of what FedGov engages in is clearly unconstitutional. Paul didn’t invent the idea, he just picked it up from the founders and many others.

  10. Anonymous
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:36 pm

    The Constitution makes NO mention of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter. Marbury v Madison was quite a while later.

  11. Quartermaster
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:36 pm

    You look like you are having more fun that is should be legal. You are clearly undersupervised and need your supervisor along to keep you in line. Your wife needs to go with you next time.

  12. Nicedeb
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 6:58 pm

    I’m on my way!

    JK – Actually I’m about to put chicken patties and waffle fries in the oven for dinner.

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  17. EBL
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 8:41 pm

    Nice convertable!  Too bad it is January in Iowa!  But ride with the top down anyway.  Just wrap a bandana to save the fedora! 

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  19. Brendon Carr
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 9:12 pm

    If it’s your argument that the US Constitution went off the rails in 1803, the year of Marbury v. Madison, go right ahead, but you won’t convince many of us of that one.

  20. BruceC
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 9:18 pm

    Cool ride, Stacy!  I didn’t realize that it was a convertible.  Too bad about it being January and all.  Although I’m betting if you turn on the heat full blast and drive really slow (hillbilly moonshiner impulses notwithstanding) you can gut it out with the top down.  Just don’t roll up the side windows.  That’s just wrong.

  21. Anonymous
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 10:34 pm

    Stacy, you’re looking mighty suave–with both the fedora AND the Mustang, Mrs. Other McCain must be shooing the ladies away with a stick!

  22. Anonymous
    January 3rd, 2012 @ 10:54 pm

    OK. The Constitution says what it says. If you don’t believe what it says, fine. Just don’t try and BS us that you are conservative…