Jackson Jambalaya

In addition to the vid he is seen as a pretty boy multi- millionaire who is out of touch with the majority of Americans. Most Republicans don't even support him or want to. They are forced to because every one else is batshit insane. People don't become President by being the guy everyone settles for!

The DNC could do the same thing with Gingrich and any other politician. Gingrich lambasts Fannie/Freddie but he took $2 million from them in consultant fees. He's supposed to be fiscally conservative yet he spends money like a drunken sailor (see wife's jewelry expenses). You could make a commercial like this for any politician. Sadly, it's the nature of the beast. I wonder if the DNC will be offended when the RNC uses Obama's own words against him (again).

Just one problem no one has figured out with that thesis.

Obama took more money from Fannie except for Dodd in Congress.

One million, not two. Exaggerate much?

We Repubs are still in search of the right clean and articulate candidate who has a resume and can list at least one accomplishment. It's a tough life.

I humbly submit Gov. Huntsman...

I had a question that perhaps the readers of JJ know the answer to. Why has Senator Thad Cochran endorsed Gov. Romney? Romney is antithethical to virtually everything Mississippians believe in. My thoughts regarding Gov. Romney have always centered around his Mormon beliefs. If he truly believes that heresy, he'll believe anything and is therefore unfit to be President. Thanks KF for providing this forum for asking.

I'd be better off with him if he stuck to what he believed in originally, not necessarily vote for him, but would have respect for him if he stuck to his original positions.

I don't think he has the luxury of changing his core image this late in the game and get away with it. If the Right is quick to criticize as they did in the video, he is doomed.

Anon @ 0600 wrote, "If he truly believes that heresy, he'll believe anything and is therefore unfit to be President."

Ambrose Bierce once defined impiety as "your irreverance towards my deity."

One's religious convictions should mean absolutely nothing in their ability to govern.

Seriously doubt Bierce would be supporting Huntsman were he alive today.

Well, what a cast of characters...
I'm amazed this five minutes that everyone has forgotten WHY the current front runner, Gingrich, resigned.
" Would you vote for a man who couldn't wait for his wife to die of cancer to be with his mistress and who misappropriated money for his personal gain so that he received the largest fine in Congressional history? Then vote Gingrich".
Oh well, when the Queen has shouted " off with their heads", and the Mad Hatters are so obviously crazy, then the grinning Cheshire Cat looks like a fine alternative to the tree in the background that merely sways in the wind.

Unfortunately, those of us who keep up with the issues of government and elections are in the minority. This election isn't going to be about how good the Republican candidate is as much as it's going to be either an affirmation or rejection of Obama. All the Republican candidates have baggage, but Romney is the one whose baggage can be most easily hidden from the people who will get interested in the election on the Friday before they vote, which is about, oh, 40 million or so of the total. He's good looking, doesn't have any extreme positions, won't say anything completely stupid, and he presents the smallest target for the Democrats. He'll win the nomination and hopefully the Presidency, because while he may not be the ideal candidate he's a lot better than the incumbent. Don't forget Haley Barbour's words - purity is the enemy of victory. Bill Billingsley

Bill, I am less sure that Romney will get the nomination. Gingrich's negatives do not, I think, count for much with the *primary* electorate.

Many of those who might otherwise be appalled by his marital record will also be those who don't want to vote for a Mormon. (See upthread.)

Whereas Gingrich has a real record and can't be dismissed as a wack-job like Cain or Bachmann. (Again, I'm talking about how primary voters view him, not about whether he *is* a wack-job.)

I also don't think "electablility" matters as much to the GOP base, because they may well think (not without justification) that this is 2008 in reverse: a bad economy dragging down the incumbent party, so that "anyone" who gets the nomination can win the election.

I mean, the 2008 recession did get a one-term black senator into the White House; is Gingrich so implausible?

To Mr. Hamilton @ 7:46.
Gov. Romney's beliefs do matter. Mormonism lacks any moral compass whatsoever. It is absolutely heretical to Christendom and to suppose it doesn't matter vis-a-vis governing our republic is ludicrous. I would surmise his ambivalence on any given issue stems in no small part from his "faith". A "faith" wherein the words of men supercede the Word of God. Thanks again KF for providing this forum. I am still wondering though if anyone has any explanation as to why our senior US Senator has endorsed him?

Bill, I agree this election WOULD be all about Obama IF the Republicans hadn't fielded a group that is doing everything possible to make Obama seem the lesser of evils.
Huntsman is actually candidate who had potential ( too late now), but since the radicials control the party, he had no hope.
The GOP field went out of their way to lose the Hispanic vote. The field endorsed Personhood which can't even win in MS or SC.
Add Norquist's collection of GOP cojones which emasculated any chance of effective GOP leadership initiatives on the economy and the GOP couldn't have helped the Democrats more if they had been trying to do just that.
You know and I know, Bill, though you are still a loyalist and I had enough once competence became irrelevant, that we are watching the politics of self-destruction.
You are not politically naive, so I'm assuming you are being positive in hope that a Hail Mary is possible. I know you've seen the personal negatives.

Spare us the bullshit. Huntsman NEVER HAD ANY TRACTION except with liberals and Donkeycrats.

Little wonder Bill you've survived and thrived all these years without the keen insights of 6:40 PM. Consider yourself mighty lucky that such wisdom has arrived to guide you going forward.

I'll vote for Obama before I'll vote for Romney. Romney has no core beliefs and is a socialist to begin with. I'd rather have the socialist I know than the socialist who doesn't even know himself.

"I'll vote for Obama before I'll vote for Romney. Romney has no core beliefs and is a socialist to begin with. I'd rather have the socialist I know than the socialist who doesn't even know himself."

So it's official now? "Socialist" is just a term of abuse, with no implication as to a theory of public ownership of the means of production?

Mitt Romney is a flip flop. Gingrich got paid millions from fannie. Gingrich supports an individual mandate. Romney laid the design for obamacare. They have both supported bailouts of failing banks with tax money.

Newt supports amnesty for those who have been here most of their lives. Driving on our roads, attending our public schools, using our public services and never paying a dime in taxes.

Do you trust Gingrich? His first two wives did too. I do not.

Why can't the republicans give us a true small government conservative who actually has a consistent record to back up it up. Would it be so hard for the Republican party to offer us a decent candidate?