News Roundup for 1/23/12

Sorry GOP. Not happening

-Headline of the Day-
"No GOP Cavalry Coming — It’s Too Late For Last Minute Presidential Candidates To Get On The Ballots."

Newt Gingrich's lopsided win in South Carolina has some Republicans nervous. Not helping any is the fact that polls show Newt actually winning Florida right now. All this has super-informed conservative pundits like Bill Kristol and Jennifer Rubin begging for some other Republican to jump into the race and save everyone from their party's awful candidates.

But reality has a message for them: you are screwed.

"In every primary state up through early April, the filing deadlines have passed," according to the report. "That includes the very delegate-rich Super Tuesday of March 6, when a total of 329 delegates will be at stake in primary states, compared to 104 in caucuses." Altogether, a new candidate would have to be able to win the nomination despite sitting out 21 primaries. This is unlikely.

The report goes on, "[F]or a Republican hero to ride in on a white horse, it would take a scenario that verges on political science fiction: A combination of write-in voting where applicable — and for Romney to fully drop out and endorse this new savior candidate, to essentially bequeath his place on the ballot by telling his pledged delegates elected in this manner to go along with it."

So you guys are just going to have to make do with what you've got. I'm sure that'll work out great for you guys. (Talking Points Memo)


-Newt on family values-



Say what you will, but he's got experience. (McClatchy)


-Bonus HotD-
"Tennessee Tea Party Don’t Want No Talk o’ Slavery In Them Schoolbooks."

Bravely fighting back against reality's liberal bias. (Wonkette)

Stories to Watch: 12/6/11

Burgers tonight, because I can't think of anything else to make and I haven't had one in a while. Always nice to have an old standby. Now here's the news...


National Review senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru tries to talk sense into Republican voters flocking to Gingrich. It is, of course, a lost cause. Check the comment thread for the racist, idiotic, ignorant response from the base. One moron calls him a "non American," while another says he's a member of the "same biased media that brought us Obama." Trust me, the thread is full of this kind of stupidity. Rightwing blowhards like Ponnuru made these idiots -- now they get to live with them.


Rightwing hack Jennifer Rubin also gives a shot at dragging the base back to reality and away from Newt. I doubt she'll have any better luck.


BTW, Gallup confirms that the fools are running toward Gingrich like he's the second coming of Reagan.


I don't think I've ever come across the writing of Esquire's Charles P. Pierce before, but this is freakin' awesome.


The Pentagon advises Newt Gingrich to actually read the stuff he mouths off about.


Yahoo News gets invited (accidentally) to listen in on an RNC strategy call.


Obama talks income inequality.


Politico will give a "Health Care Policymaker of the Year" award to Rep. Paul Ryan. Steve Benen notes that this is insane.


Republicans filibuster the appointment of a judicial nominee. Caitlin Halligan would've been confirmed had it been an up-or-down vote. That's the Senate's version of democracy for you; the side with the least votes wins.


Finally, Mittens turns down The Donald's celebrity game show. So far, it's just Newt and Rick Santorum. Sounds like must-miss TV.

Related articles

• Newt Gingrich swings into lead in new polls (bazaardaily.com)
• Rev. Chuck Currie: Would You Trust Newt Gingrich With Your Children? (huffingtonpost.com)
• Newt Gingrich on terror attacks: "they should every once in a while have allowed an attack to get through" (seeker401.wordpress.com)
• James Moore: Kiss What? (huffingtonpost.com)

Stories to Watch: 4/22/11

Rest in Peace, Nina Fulton. Now here's the news...


Dueling headlines: From Weigel; "If the Ryan budget is so unpopular, where are the town-hall meltdowns?" From ThinkProgress; "More Republican Congressmen Face Town Hall Backlash Over Tax Breaks For Wealthy And Medicare Privatization." It's easy to forget sometimes that Dave Weigel's a Libertarian.


Speaking of that townhall backlash over Ryan's budget, Super-Genius Charles Krauthammer thinks Ryan ought to run for president. Jennifer Rubin agrees. What planet do these people live on?


Polling shows Americans oppose raising the debt limit -- in big numbers. I think if the media actually explained what raising the debt limit means (i.e., paying the bills) people would be a lot less freaked out by it.


Finally: in other polling news, the New York Times edited out mention of the huge percentage of Republican birthers in their report on their latest polling.