Good Morning, Alice:  Honestly, I do hope Rick Santorum wins in Florida.  I hope he wins the nomination... period.  It will never happen, but if I could arrange for the Republican with the least chance to go up against President Obama this coming November, it would be Rick Santorum.  After him, Newt Gingrich.  In my opinion, when the entire country instead of just the conservative Republicans, are the ones whose votes are being courted in the national election... Romney would have the best chance of defeating Obama.

So... yay for Rick.  Heck, if I could vote for him in FLorida, I would.

For conservative Republicans like yourself, I would think you would want the Republican with the best chance to defeat Obama to get the nomination... not the Republican who most suits and matches your personal beliefs.   I am not saying anything negative about anyone here, just commenting on my opinion on who would have the best chance of knocking Present Obama out of office.

Hope all is well with you... have a great weekend.

Also, as far as Santorum "quitting" Florida, that is not what I heard.  I heard/read that he was exhausted, and was simply going home for the weekend, and would be back in Florida bright and early Monday morning campaigning.

I would also not think any hint of information about Obama being behind that story would be true.  If anything, I think Obama would also hope that Santorum would win Florida.

Karen Anne - the county is CENTER RIGHT - not CENTER LEFT.  Judging from the total LACK of O/B 2012 bumper stickers on cars in our area, I suspect that VA, OHIO as well as Florida may put the nails in O/B 2nd term.

Even in Virginia, with DYNOMITE economic growth, the BLUE areas that voted for Obama are turning RED fast!

Wallace:  I agree with you about the bumper stickers.  I really don't think there will be anywhere near the amount of them we say in 2008.  Things may change as we get closer to November, but really, I think not.

I think the reason for that is there is a totally different dynamic about President Obama this year compared to 2008.  In 2008... many people were excited about hope and change... ya know... that stuff Sarah Palin used to ask about all the time.

Now... it is more of a negative feel for the entire country's situation.  I do think Obama will be re-elected... but much of the reason is not "rah rah"... but a reaction to all of the obstructionism thrown up in Congress by the Republicans in general, and the Tea Party in particular.  Just as has happened in Wisconsin... the Conservatives have "over-reached"... and it is obvious.

Time and time again we have heard the Republicans say that their MAIN goal is to make sure Obama is a one-term president.  They have organized their actions almost totally with that in mind.

If President Obama is for something... even it whatever it is actually is something the Conservatives were for in the past... they will block it.

The over-reaching is really going to be their downfall.  Being faithful to one's political party is one thing.  The fact that the Republicans and the Tea Party in general has been faithful to their party/beliefs to the extent that it has actually been harmful to our country... which it HAS... is quite another thing.  The four remaining GOP candidates remaining are all extremists... some more than others.  So much so, that it is scary.

Over-reaching as they have... will bring a back-lash.  This will... in my opinion... come back to bite them.

I am shocked that the Tea Party didn't endorse the man who started it, Ron Paul.

Karen - Comment #7 - Obama is a failure as he continued the Bush policies that everyone didn't want. The only reason why his party members will vote for him again is because they won't like the Republican alternative. Obama's greatest challenger will be Ron Paul.

By the way, Santorum doesn't have the infrastructure in place to continue much longer. I don't think he's even registered in a few states. Also, this guy raised the debt ceiling 5 times. Hardly a friend to the Tea Party.

Ron Paul did not start the Tea Party.

Santorum is planning for his run in 2016 of 2020. He never had a chance this time. Not enough support. I would take Newt over Romney any day. Of course I will take anyone over Obama.

If we can't figure out who the real conservative is, if we continue to ignore the obvious shortcomings of people like Newt, then we get what we deserve.

In short, Newt is an igotistical, progressive that will increase spending, will create more government programs and destroy the conservative brand for decades.  Listen to his own words and you know this.

Romney is a caring, moral, family man, nice guy----but he is not conservative, he at best is a middle of the road, lean in the wind kinda guy and he has Romneycare on his back.

Pick Paul or Santorum, neither have skeletons, have preached conservative values for much longer than the other two. 

Dale... it really does not matter who the "real" conservative is.  I would think that for you, what would matter is who the most "electable" conservative is... as far as your side of the political spectrum is concerned.  That is the ONLY point I was trying to make here.  The farther over the edge you go with who you nominate, the less chance they have of being elected.

I also think it is "interesting" that the four of you all showed up within one hour and thirteen minutes of each other to comment.  Gee... word must have gotten out about this post... LOL.

Than... as far as Santorum is concerned... it will never, ever happen.  Not now, not 2016, 2020 or whenever.  He wants a Theocracy.  He may have a few good ideas... but what he wants to do is take his own personal religious beliefs, turn them into law, and then force the entire country to abide by them.  I am sure Santorum would just love it if the next Amendment to the Constitution was the Baltimore Catechism.

But... to repeat.  I would just love it if by some miracle, Rick Santorum would be the Republican nominee this year.

Than - Are you serious?  The Tea Party was started in December 2007 for the Ron Paul Campaign. Why did Rand Paul beat an established Republican in KY in Nov 2010???

Here you go:   http://youtu.be/gojvcC1UsKs

Alice - Based on what  I read, he has no money and he is not registered a in a few key states. Hopefully I am wrong so he can push the debate.

If Obama wins a second term I will be moving to Canada. At least there is still sanity left in that country who booted out the liberals last year and are starting to recover from the bullshit liberals give when all their failed policies come to fruition and someone has to pay for them...

Again, I say Ron Paul is not the Father of the Tea Party. Yes, it was started to try and get him elected, but he did not start it.

Libertian is what Ron Paul is. Just because the MSM calls Ron Paul the 'Godfather' of the Tea Party does not make it so. Yes, the majority of early support or most vocal support was for Ron Paul, but there wasn't even a conservative to choose from in '07. Ron Paul was the closest to it, but the man is a racist, isolationist and the MSM has not jumped on this because they want him around messing up the Tea Party and conservative message.

So, I guess Obama is the Godfather of OWS? And the the crime: murders, rapes, vandalism, drug use, public urination, threats, defecating on police cars and businesses, theft, etc etc etc those should all be tracked back to Obama and every Democrat that the OWS has supported?

Nick:  Is there any chance I could get that promise of yours in writing, and of course, witnessed and notarized ?  I mean, you are a man of your word, aren't you ?

Nick, don't make that promise. Just promise to shave your head. Anything can happen in politics, anything. 

Nick - it's the central planning of the economy that ruins us. Both sides of the political isle have corrupted our way of life. Our interest rates are artificially too low, thus pushing inflation. Just this week, they once again changed how we measure inflation to make the numbers look small.

Than - The people who jumped on Ron Paul's platform were conservatives, independents and democrats that were sick of Bush's attacks on civil liberties, increase spending, war and bail outs. The very concept of the modern tea party came from his campaign.Look at the Tea Party rallys. They have "End the Fed" and "Don't Tread on me" signs. Where do you think these concepts came from? How was Rand Paul able to beat Jack Conway?

Regarding racism - He is not a racists. Racism is a collective term where Ron Paul believes in the individual. People closest to him disputed these claims. It is impossible to believe in individual liberty and be racists.

Regarding isolationism - He is a non-interventionist, not an isolationist. He poses a great argument here regarding his stance.

Regarding OWS - I believe they resulted in the frustration of government, just like the Tea Party. Everything I have read indicate no association with Obama or the democratic side of politics. They believe, rightfully so, that the political landscape is corrupt. Although some in the group are able to determine the cause of the issue, the majority are not and call for government interference to even the playing field.