The Other McCain

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

Professor Jacobson, Maybe We Should Both Start Blogging About Sports …

Posted on | February 19, 2012 | 40 Comments

. . . or movies or food or something besides politics, because right now we are diametrically opposite and neutralizing each other:

Should the race come down to Santorum or Romney, I’d have to think about it, as shocking as that may sound given my criticisms of Romney. That’s not so much a vote of confidence in Romney, as it is an uneasiness with Santorum.

Your opposition to Santorum is somewhat less staunch than my opposition to Gingrich. I said bluntly several weeks ago that, if the fight for the nomination comes down to Newt vs. Mitt, I’m for Mitt.

Newt Gingrich simply has too much baggage, and to nominate the twice-divorced Gingrich would be to throw away the “family values” argument altogether. (See Jeffrey Bell on the importance of social issues to the GOP.) But weren’t you paying attention, Professor, to what a godawful mess of a campaign Newt ran in Nevada? Don’t you find it troubling that Gingrich hasn’t been able to get better results despite his enormous fundraising advantage ($12.6 million to $2.2 million through Dec. 31) over Santorum? (Maybe it’s that Tiffany’s bill, eh?)

Whatever my problems with Romney, and they are legion, he has at least stuck with his first wife and run a competent campaign.

Anyway, your blog’s hostility toward Santorum is effectively canceling out my blog’s hostility toward Gingrich, so maybe we should both find something else to blog about — celebrity gossip, perhaps — until this damned primary campaign is over.

Category: Election 2012, Legal Insurrection, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum

Comments

40 Responses to “Professor Jacobson, Maybe We Should Both Start Blogging About Sports …”

  1. Multimedia Group
    February 19th, 2012 @ 9:47 pm

    Don’t worry too much about the “cancellation” effect.  Newt has to live and die by his record and his notoriety and no amount of cheerleading from bloggers will change that. Meanwhile, Rick benefits from quality blogging by guys like you because as people get to know him, they’ll come to support him.

    I just got back from his rally in Cumming, GA and the guy is more impressive than I had expected.  His ability to speak extemporaneously about the issues of the day including very recent current events tells me that he will be a MUCH better candidate against Obama than the other three – by far.

  2. John Scotus
    February 19th, 2012 @ 10:00 pm

    I’m sorry, but Jacobson cancelled himself out with his enthusiasm for Newt. He did not need to your help to make himself irrelevant. It seems that many of these 9/11 conservatives were not really paying attention during the 1990s and have no understanding of how god-awful Gingrich is. It is hard to hard to take anyone seriously when they are pushing Newt as someone who should be president.

  3. Adrienne
    February 19th, 2012 @ 10:28 pm

     Exactly what happened to me when he came to Coeur d’ Alene and I was able to see him in action (and spend some time talking to him one on one.)

    He’s learning to control his facial expressions and tone of voice.  I’m guessing he has some very good people working with him.

    He is much smarter than people give him credit for….

  4. tranquil.night
    February 19th, 2012 @ 10:49 pm

    We’ve got at least 10 quality Senate candidates that could use some love. Plus some rising stars that need to be launched to the house, like the wonderful Mia Love who you covered.

    Of course even Operation Counterweight is foul because that’s Jacobson’s name for it.  Those debaucherous Libertarians! How about.. Operation Overweight!

  5. Adjoran
    February 19th, 2012 @ 11:20 pm

     Yeah, there’s no “cancelling out” going on between you and the good Professor.  Gingrich had his moment, but it was a fleeting thing.  He was never going to be the nominee – there are too many of us who remember why conservatives threw him out, and the man himself simply cannot resist allowing his overblown ego to derail his focus, as we’ve seen already.

    Those who chose to ignore his unmatched record of unfavorability among independents, swing voters, and women over the last 16 years were only deluding themselves. 

    I still have reservations about Rick’s experience because I think it takes more management skill than you can pick up running a Senate staff to run the whole government, but the man is of sterling character – in stark contrast to the entire Democratic machine – and would not embarrass us with sudden personal revelations. 

    If there cannot be  a Governor or General to be the last Not Romney standing, I’m glad it’s Santorum.

  6. Donn1494
    February 19th, 2012 @ 11:40 pm

    Right to work!!! What true coservative would vote against it!!

  7. Leslie Eastman
    February 19th, 2012 @ 11:51 pm

    I love both your blogs, though I “like yours” and  am “in love” with the Professors.  I don’t think you cancel eachother our.  In fact, I like reading both of your points of view — and I think it is important that readers consider both sides to make their decisions.  This discourse is invaluable, and we are all better served for it.

    All the remaining Republican candidates are highly flawed. So, I urge all my Republican friends to read all there is, meditate/reflect/pray and decide who would be the most responsive to citizen’s interests.  Then, vote.

    As for myself, as a Democrat who loathes Obama with a flaming intensity that is the equal to any 12 commenters here, I will vote for the GOP candidate who arrives Nov. 6th with a pulse. 

    Keep up the good work, Stacy, and let the vetting continue.

  8. ThomasD
    February 20th, 2012 @ 12:00 am

    I will not vote for Romney.

    A choice, not an echo.

  9. willpeir
    February 20th, 2012 @ 12:34 am

    I don’t agree with Professor at all, but I’m glad he keeps me appreciative that another opinion can be wise. No matter what happens, I appreciate his love and effort of what we were/are.

  10. Rose
    February 20th, 2012 @ 12:36 am

    You guys are doing fine – just don’t turn into Erickson – I won’t soon forgive his sniping at Palin. It served no purpose, and began the circular firing squad.

    None of our candidates can stand up to the Obama juggernaut. Sadly – Santorum’s trial by fire hasn’t even begun, and he doesn’t have Sarah Palin’s invincible skin. Newt has at least been thoroughly vetted – there’s nothing new they can throw at him. They’re getting ready to gang up on Santorum’s wife. Whether it’s Romney doing it or Obama, it’s going to be – deadly.

  11. Adjoran
    February 20th, 2012 @ 12:54 am

     Well, as a right-to-work supporter and scourge of union thugs, I have to note that if he voted for right-to-work laws or waivers for Davis-Bacon he would certainly have lost the Reagan Democrats and been unable to win in Pennsylvania.  He could have opted for Purity, and stayed home as a Democrat took the Senate seat.

    Would you rather have a Harris Wofford in the Senate?

    It’s as silly as the Purity Patrol’s push for Christine O’Donnell.  Sure, she was more conservative than Castle, but he was an odds-on favorite and she lost pathetically.

  12. Adjoran
    February 20th, 2012 @ 12:57 am

     Then, should it come to that, you will be effectively voting for Obama – whether you pull his lever, vote for a third party loser, or leave the top line blank, the only difference is how much your Obama vote will count.

    Now, if you are willing to accept that, and not duck the responsibility for your actions, it’s your vote and your right.  Just don’t pretend you are doing something other than subjecting your great-grandchildren to the leftist judges Obama will appoint in his second term.

  13. Adjoran
    February 20th, 2012 @ 1:11 am

     You are entirely incorrect about the vetting.  Newt has a lot more coming if he should come back and win, as Emmett Tyrrell – who hasn’t endorsed anyone, and is no “RINO Establishment squish” – has noted. 

    And as Tyrrell observes, if he knows of several hitherto unbroken scandals, you can bet the Dems have more.

    Santorum may have his record put under the microscope, as is appropriate, but everything about him is already on the record.  If they attack his wife, there will be a backlash – as there has on nearly every spouse attack in modern politics, except for Muskie’s wife’s incomes.

  14. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 1:12 am

     You could write the exact same thing for someone writing “We’re going to make sure Romney gets the nomination.”

  15. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 1:17 am

    Add to that obvious fact (which the Newt folks ignore), the rationale he gave: Why is the Federal government telling a state what to do about unions?

    I’m a devout right-to-work guy, too, but I sure don’t see any right for federal intervention in how states deal with Unions.

    (or the vast array of other areas where they’ve intervened)

  16. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 1:24 am

    There seems to be a ton of hit pieces floating around against Santorum from the Newt supporters.  They keep getting dropped into the comments at Scoop’s.

    I respect both of these men, and want to see this thing played out.  But the s*** stream of hit pieces against Santorum are all written as though people are afraid he wants to put American women into “baby jail” or something, and set fire to gays.  Oh, and he’s Catholic.

    Why anyone calling themselves “conservative” would even try to scare people away from his positions on social issues is appalling.  He’s not running for Grand Ayatollah.

  17. Prudy
    February 20th, 2012 @ 3:27 am

    if they can make Santorum appear intolerant and ugly, despite his voting record, they win.

  18. Adjoran
    February 20th, 2012 @ 3:31 am

     True – in fact the only differences on these issues between the candidates have been who was more first.  But this is the line of attack the left will take on Santorum, hoping to motivate their pro-abortion base and the gay-indoctrinated young voters who might not otherwise show up.

    On one hand it is great Santorum is open about talking about these subjects, but on the other it provides an opening for Obama to change the subject from his miserable performance, which is his only real chance to win.

  19. EBL
    February 20th, 2012 @ 3:50 am

    Dan Riehl has given up on Newt.  I give Prof. Jacobson points on loyalty, but unless Newt makes some magical resurrection it just does not seem possible.  Which leaves the choice Santorum or Mitt.  

  20. Finrod Felagund
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:12 am

    So what, he would have lost by over 20 percent in 2006 instead of *only* by 17.4 percent?
     

  21. Finrod Felagund
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:15 am

    I doubt seriously that anyone has anything else significant to throw at Gingrich.  If they had the Romney camp would have already used it against him.  It’s more likely that someone is blowing smoke and trying to get people to believe there’s a fire.

  22. Finrod Felagund
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:18 am

    If you think the Newt people are getting ugly with what they’re throwing at Santorum, just wait.  The Obama folks will make it look like mild restrained criticism.

    I don’t see how any Presidential candidate can say the things that Santorum has said about birth control and not lose the general by more than Sen. McCain lost it last time.  After the media spin gets ahold of it they’ll have Santorum looking like he wants every woman in the country to be barefoot and pregnant.

  23. EBL
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:37 am

    Dan Riehl on why he cannot support Newt anymore…

  24. robertstacymccain
    February 20th, 2012 @ 5:34 am

    I won’t soon forgive his sniping at Palin. It served no purpose, and began the circular firing squad.

    I agree that the “sniping at Palin” (and her supporters) was unnecessarily cruel. It exposed a certain sadistic tendency on Erickson’s part.

  25. PhillyCon
    February 20th, 2012 @ 10:05 am

    Well polling data says the opposite of Mr. Jacobsen, in various states, esp. MI.  If you take Newt out of the equation, Santorum’s lead over Romney’s increases.    This is true of most of the polling out there.  If its a two man race, Santorum wins.  This is why Nate Silver called Gingrich, Romney’s “best friend.”

  26. I Won’t Vote For Romney | Daily Pundit
    February 20th, 2012 @ 10:30 am

    […] Won’t Vote For Romney Posted on February 20, 2012 7:30 am by Bill Quick Professor Jacobson, Maybe We Should Both Start Blogging About Sports … : The Other McCain Anyway, your blog’s hostility toward Santorum is effectively canceling out my […]

  27. creeper00
    February 20th, 2012 @ 10:35 am

     I’m with you on that, ThomasD.  If it’s Romney vs. Obama we’re headed for disaster no matter who wins.  That being the case, let Obama own it.  I’ll vote for fiscal conservatives down-ticket and hope they can keep the worst excesses of Barry-O at bay.

  28. richard mcenroe
    February 20th, 2012 @ 10:39 am

    As this campaign season goes on, the Gingrinches and Mittens are getting, er, progressively more shrill and offensive, with a devotion to truth in some cases that would make Kos proud.  Strangely though, this seems not to have provoked another tantrum from Ace yet.

  29. alwaysfiredup
    February 20th, 2012 @ 11:08 am

    Can someone please explain to me how Santorum would cut the budget?  His pandering on this issue reminds me of Romney.  It’s not enough to adopt the right positions, you need a record of action in the same area.  Where has Santorum been for the past twenty years?  I could give a crap about “family values”; I want the d@mn budget cut.  That’s Gingrich and Paul, AFAICT.

  30. A Stephens
    February 20th, 2012 @ 11:21 am

    Big fan of both RSM and the Professor, + Riehl.  I need to read more than just that with which I agree.

    I’m of the view that the more that is thrown at Santorum, the better he looks.  Not because I’m 100% in agreement with every position, but because I’m 100% impressed with his willingness to stand up and explain those positions.

  31. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 1:48 pm

    McCain lost because he never fought. Not even a little.

    Obama can spin like a spinnin’ top, but he still has to run against his disastrous record. People who hate Republicans will still put up with Santorum for a few years to get their jobs back. And that’s the negative view. The positive view is much, much brighter.

    So I really don’t care how much Obama’s minions spend.

  32. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 2:05 pm

     That’s a very bizarre analysis, even though it’s got some very good points buried in it.

    He manages to make the entire Republican effort seem wasted and  worthless.  Including the prospect of a brokered convention.

  33. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 2:15 pm

    I’ve seen a glimmer of hope that Santorum “gets” it, that he keeps getting roped into talking about abortion and gay marriage, and it’s been holding him back. I think his recent performance in debates and interviews shows he’s been working on that. So I believe he’s got a real shot against the SCOAMFOTUS.

    The caveat being that he A)secures the nomination, ii) doesn’t do something stupid with the VP slot, and 3)Republicans get on board (which I believe they will).

    Of course, I think even Ron Paul!!1! could beat Obama if those things happened. (Also that Romney would struggle and maybe lose, and Newt would beat Obama solidly.)

  34. Pathfinder's wife
    February 20th, 2012 @ 2:23 pm

    Conservatives who can see that “right to work” could be twisted wholesale into a really bad proposition if jumped into wholesale and without thought to the consequences.

    The right to work initiative could be a considerable help, but, as with everything else, if taken too far and with too little consideration beforehand will be just as damaging as anything else.

  35. PhillyCon
    February 20th, 2012 @ 3:41 pm

    K-Bob:
    What’s with the Newt spammers on the Santorum threads on RS?  They are getting kind of annoying.

  36. Bob Belvedere
    February 20th, 2012 @ 3:49 pm

    He couldn’t help it, Stacy: he thinks like a Bolshe.

  37. PhillyCon
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:02 pm

    K-Bob:
    RS just banned me … please tell him I was being sarcastic!  Oh my!  I can’t believe it!

  38. » The long and whining road - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
    February 20th, 2012 @ 4:30 pm

    […] This apology.  When do I get mine? […]

  39. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 8:51 pm

    All’s well that ends well!

    (Unless ending well means “everyone dies.”)

  40. K-Bob
    February 20th, 2012 @ 8:54 pm

    Yeah. I guess we just need to argue them back. As long as they don’t spam the same arguments over and over, or be rude to anyone, or treat the candidates rudely, we’ll let them have their say.

    But it does get tiresome dealing with hit pieces.