Realistically Santorum should probably be considering dropping out, especially when the artificial momentum generated by media hype runs into the brick wall of reality in next week's Arizona and Michigan primaries. Yes, the latest nationwide poll has Santorum slightly ahead of Romney, but that is just a general poll and so far they have proven to be volatile and totally unreliable, and that lead is largely the creation of media hype and irrational enthusiasm.
Republicans need to take a minute to crunch the numbers and use better math than the Washington Post is using. Less than 30% of voters now identify themselves as Republicans. Independents now make up the largest block of voters. Running against Obama, even if he got most of the Republican votes, someone with Santorum's extreme moralistic agenda and bizarre personal beliefs will draw no Democrat votes and very few independents. A 20% or greater loss to Obama is not at all unlikely. In fact, presidential matchup polls show him losing to Obama by a larger margin than any other candidate.
So Republicans. Ask yourself this simple question. Is the media on your side? If they are trying so hard to promote Santorum as a viable candidate and are willing to lie to do it, shouldn't that be a strong warning that he's probably not the right guy to bean Obama?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Tommy Mack
Timothy Egan’s piece in the NY Times, The Electoral Wasteland, further fleshes out your observation, Dave. The Republican Party has no frontrunners. It has Romney and someone else.
Santorum’s comments about Obama’s religion on Sunday may appeal to the least common denominator of the GOP, the Tea Party, but the comments underlying racists tone should knock him out of the someone else position. Never lose sight of the fact that news has got to sell. If it doesn’t, it is not fit to print on the front page.
Tommy
2 - zingzing
santorum gets as much shit from the media as he does hype. but all press is good press. and it's true that the media does love his poll numbers and hype-producing pageant wins. can you imagine what a media bonanza a santorum-obama race would be? far more interesting than a romney-obama race... it'd be a trainwreck and a trouncing at the same time. the greatest comedy ever told.
3 - Steve Bremner
It's a conspiracy I tells ya! Damn librul media.
4 - Glenn Contrarian
I think this article is about as demonstrative of the problem with the Right as I've ever seen.
If you're inclined to like [Santorum] you should be listening to your paranoia, not your optimism. The media really is in the tank for Obama and they really are lying to you.
What Dave is saying here is that if the media say something the Right doesn't like, then it's obvious that the media are lying. More examples:
- If the media report that the vast majority of scientists (and almost all climatologists) accept AGW as being real and a clear and present danger, that's obviously part of the vast left-wing conspiracy.
- If the media report that the economy is doing better than it was, that unemployment is going down, that GM is doing quite nicely thank you very much, that's obviously part of the vast left-wing conspiracy.
- If the media report that nearly two-thirds of Americans (and a majority of Republicans) support raising taxes on millionaires, that's obviously part of the vast left-wing conspiracy.
Yep! The media are just lying! Dave KNOWS that they are lying because they're saying things that doesn't fit in with his world view...which is why he advises his comrades in the GOP to listen to their paranoia. Don't listen to what the media say - because they're lying - just listen to your paranoia! Which reminds me of the NRA's Executive Vice President's claim concerning Obama's decision to not pursue gun control legislation: “It’s all part of a massive Obama conspiracy to deceive voters and destroy the Second Amendment in our country.” Yep! Not pushing gun control legislation is part of a "massive conspiracy" to push gun control legislation!
And so it goes with Dave and the vast left-wing conspiracy by the media.
What Dave is not getting is that Santorum is the anti-Romney flavor of the month (ugh!) for Republicans. I guess Dave didn't pick up on this particular pattern after Bachmann and Perry and Cain and Gingrich. As far as the media are concerned, Santorum's not much different from Kim Kardashian or Charlie Sheen (or Sarah Palin). Santorum got some attention by unexpectedly winning three states (where the media were NOT exactly pushing Santorum's name), and so he's simply the anti-Romney flavor of the month...except to those who are Absolutely Sure this is all part of an epic-scale left-wing conspiracy.
No, in Dave's world it's not the Republicans who are fooling themselves - it's the eeeeeeeevil media who all got together in a Secret Witches Coven of Media Moguls (that was somehow kept TOTALLY SECRET from the phone-tappers and e-mail hackers at News Corp) where they decided how they would indoctrinate the American people!
What Dave doesn't grok is that single most important factor Republican primary voters are looking for is NOT someone who will grow our economy, NOT someone who will protect our nation, NOT someone who will protect "family values". What those GOP voters are looking for more than anything else is "can this guy beat Obama?"
And that's what's really sad.
5 - Dave
Glenn. Read the damned article before spouting off. That the media is lying is not the conclusion of the article, but rather it's genesis. I caught the WaPo lying and the article is an explanation of why they are lying. The lying part is just indisputable fact and of less interest than the reasons for it.
6 - Bob from Texas
Dave,
I have a slightly different take than yours. The folks behind the rise of Santorum are Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and their loyal foot soldiers who host their own drive-time conservative talk show programs in major and mid-level media markets throughout the country. They openly promote and basically give free campaign air time for Santorum (they are the campaigners) and bash Romney and his supporters as RINOs, moderates, and, at times, liberals daily. Santorum is basically the last man standing for them since it is clear that Newt has too much baggage to be the nominee. Mainly, they hate Romney and want anybody but Romney to be the nominee. They harp on Romney being the establishment's candidate. My question: who is the establishment? My response: the Conservative Media Establishment (see names previously mentioned) is the establishment in the 2012 GOP. They rule as they flex their influential muscles by energizing the far-right and religious right vote for Santorum.
7 - Igor
The media lying? What a scandal!
But isn't the media just for sale? Don't they just do whatever is most remunerative? Isn't that the consequence of a mercantile press?
It's just the free market at work, isn't it?
8 - Glenn Contrarian
Dave -
Glenn. Read the damned article before spouting off. That the media is lying is not the conclusion of the article, but rather it's genesis.
And that's my point! You're starting with a wildly inaccurate assumption, one that has bounced back and forth across the conservative echo chamber that it is now considered gospel that if the media says something conservatives don't like, it must be part of the oh-so-left-wing media's concerted campaign to turn America into France. Dave, you can NEVER reliably arrive at a logical conclusion if your initial premise is so incredibly faulty.
I caught the WaPo lying and the article is an explanation of why they are lying. The lying part is just indisputable fact and of less interest than the reasons for it.
Let me pretend for a moment that they did, that the Washington Post knowingly and willfully lied. Tell you what, Dave - for every ONE lie you show me by the WaPo (and add in MSNBC to boot!) and I'll show you TWENTY by Fox News. Care to take me up on that? I didn't think so. I know you don't care for Fox...but whether you like it or not, they ARE the mouthpiece of the GOP (or is it vice versa?).
What you are doing is poisoning the well. You took a story by the WaPo that you had issues with and used it to blame the media as a whole. You should know better than that.
9 - Zingzing
Glenn, think you may be barking up the wrong tree. WaPo isn't the most liberal of media outlets, so I don't know that Dave is blaming the liberal media so much as media in general. They're playing it for the controversy, for the ratings and sales. Smooth sailing for Romney til the convention won't sell papers, and with newt sinking himself, they've got no real alternative but this shit stained bigot.
It's true what Dave says about the WaPo article attributing undecided delegates to that frothy fuck. He doesn't have those delegates locked up. The worst Dave is doing here is being naive about the media and popular conception and politics. But he's only really berating republicans for being idiots and only reading headlines. If they'd look a little deeper they'd know that "google problem" hasn't won shit and is pretty despicable.
10 - Glenn Contrarian
zing -
You and I both know that WaPo isn't that liberal...but try to get a conservative or a libertarian to say that! And while it may be true that Dave seems to be blaming all the media rather than just the liberal media, it is painfully obvious that he is assigning the WaPo's story "as evidence" (see paragraph 4) of the sins of the whole. That's a clear instance of "poisoning the well".
In order for Dave to be right in blaming all the media, then News Corp would have to be in on it. And the Washington Times. And the New York Post. And these would have to be in bed with the NY Times, the LA Times, and the Seattle Times.
No, I don't think so. What exposes Dave's error is his exhortation to his fellow Republicans that they should trust their paranoia. Anyone with a real understanding of history would know just how dangerous a statement that is.
11 - Zingzing
All those media outlets may not be in bed, but they certainly share a motive (monetary, not political). And yes, dave's article would be better served by showing how right wingers are being led astray by media they actually pay attention to (in addition to the post).
12 - Zingzing
Besides, the entire republican primary has Romney and a flavor of the month. The flavor residing in republican mouths this month is... Santorum. How European of them.
13 - Clavos
Isn't that the consequence of a mercantile press?
Damn right! And damn that "mercantile press!" They should be run out of business and the government should run the press; we could have one or two newspapers and a like number of TV news sources. We could call them Pravda, or Granma maybe something like The Voice of The People, or News for The Masses.
Those mercantile bastards are whores.
Hang 'em.
14 - Igor
A mercantile press has mercantile values. They'll trumpet whatever helps their individual mercantile aims, or lacking a clear direction for personal interest, mercantile interests in general.
15 - Glenn Contrarian
Clavos -
That list would include the BBC, too. Just because a news organization has government sanction doesn't mean it's a government organ.
And there was a time that it was against the law for a media corporation to influence its news section - the news organization was required to give the news without regard to how the news might affect the network's advertisers. That period ended with Reagan.
16 - Clavos
And there was a time that it was against the law for a media corporation to influence its news section...
Not so, Glenn. There's never been such a law. Many broadcasters had self-imposed rules, but no law.
And the Beeb is a poor example when discussing the possibility of an American government-owned outlet; at this time, and for many years, the US government has been on an orgy of power seizing and intrusion into the private lives of citizens; putting a broadcaster under the control of Washington would ensure bias couched in terms favorable to the government, not the people.
17 - Tommy Mack
Just because a news organization has government sanction doesn't mean it's a government organ.
Glenn, that is government organ grinding. The BBC is not a government sanction. It is the government. The US government sanctions Armed Forces Radio Television Service, which is my area of my expertise. US law prevents government media in country.
Clavos, the idea of putting a broadcaster under the control of Washington has a lovely absurdity to it. Neither Fox nor MSNBC would tolerate it. This is an amazingly moot discussion.
Tommy
18 - Dr Dreadful
The BBC is not a government sanction. It is the government.
Not really the way it works, Tommy. The BBC operates under a statutory charter to provide nationwide broadcasting services. It is not an organ of government: in fact, it is legally mandated to be politically impartial.
This, however, does not mean that BBC journalism is vanilla-flavoured. BBC news services are known for their hard-hitting political interviews and investigative reporting. That ministers of successive governments continue to be surprised and affronted when the BBC takes them severely to task is one of the biggest ironies of British politics.
19 - jamminsue
Um, can we re-focus on why Santorum gets so much attention? One reason is because he actually believes, and has consisitently said the stuff he preaches. Set that against any other candidate, and watch the wobble. I think that is why. Even Chris Hayes says that about him. People are so hungry for someone who is "real" that they are willing to ignore content. Who cares who is hyping him? He is not viable, he won't get the nomination. All you moderate Republicans, quit wringing your hands, and start shouting and get your party back!
20 - Tommy Mack
Doc, the distinction I responded to was the idea of government media. Such a thing exists.
The very blogosphere challenges that. BBC is no more government controlled than CBS, NBC, or ABC.
Noted.
Tommy
21 - Glenn Contrarian
Doc -
That's just it - among the American Right, it's unimaginable, simply inconceivable that if someone works for the government in any capacity, that he or she is anything but a mindless bot following the every whim of The Great Suit in the Sky.
They've been fed this in the Right's echo chamber for so long that they cannot imagine that their corporate world is more corrupt than the government, that yes, those oh-so-terrible government functionaries really do try their level best to do what's right. They raise Cain about the ease with which politicians are bought...but refuse to either hold accountable the corporations who buy the politicians or even to support legislation to restrict the corporations' ability to buy politicians! Such vast hypocrisy!
And the worst irony of all is that many of those on the Right who rail against the government are working for the government in full-time, salaried positions!
22 - Cannonshop
Santorum's not viable in the National, and didn't I tell everyone six months ago that Gingrich was a "Joke Candidate" doing it with no intention of winning?
Dave, the Media's not driving Santorum's rise-as much fun as that conspiracy theory might be, it's a lot more to do with who AIN'T showing up for those primaries and caucuses-the party is split-er, rather, splintered, and most of the disgruntled just aren't coming to the meetings right now. (the Camp-church bible thumpers are, but they ALWAYS show up!)
and here's why:
The Party has shown over the last sixteen years exactly ZERO intention toward actually conforming to its platform. Particularly obvious is the "Economics" side of said platform, and the naked Crony-payolas of the Late Bush years, the extension of "Security theatre" (sure to make Libertarian branch republicans wince), and while they may not have raised taxes (much) they certainly helped screw everyone by rampaging with the chequebook, not holding defense contractors to account for their contracts (JSF, other projects), and prostituting our soldiers into foreign wars for Europe's oil whilst doing little or nothing to repair or expand our OWN infrastructure (and jobs) here at home...
and the party's done worse than that-they've walked away from the Teddy Roosevelt Republicans too-allowing much the same rampant Trust formations that we saw in Clinton years (that being the orgy of merger-and-buyouts), Bailouts, "too big to fail" policies...basically the Party Brass and their trained monkeys in D.C. have betrayed the:
1. Fiscal Conservatives
2. Trade Conservatives
3. Libertarian Conservatives
4. Constitutionalist Conservatives.
The only branch of the family that's actually got ANY real love left, is the branch Santorum's a shitstained representative of-the Religious-right-wing-nutter conservatives and the Nanny Staters on the Right.
(Yes, Glenn, there ARE nanny-staters on the right, and they're just about equally obnoxious as the socialist nanny-staters in YOUR party.)
Sadly, Romney looks to people like ME to be a retread of George Bush Sr. in terms of policy and performance-another corporatist right-aisle version nanny-stater who'll bail out the next AIG at crushing cost, but won't bring BLM, BIA, FBI, CIA, DEA, DHS, or the Dept. of Education to heel. (Speaking of the Dept. of Education, why DO they need their own SWAT teams??)
23 - Dr Dreadful
Speaking of the Dept. of Education, why DO they need their own SWAT teams??
Because everybody in this country from the Hot Seat down fancies themselves as Dirty Harry (who for some reason, though himself dirty, is the one to Clean Up This Town).
...Wouldn't it be funny if some constitutional historian discovered that the 2nd amendment had become muddled at some point in the drafting process, that one of the Founding Fathers had been exceptionally fond of big game (in particular grizzlies and wildebeest), and that what the 2nd was actually meant to confer was the right to keep bears and gnus?
24 - Igor
21-Glenn makes an excellent point: "They've been fed this in the Right's echo chamber for so long that they cannot imagine that their corporate world is more corrupt than the government,..."
Indeed, I can attest that the corporate world is infested with corruption, treachery, dishonesty and cowardice, especially at the highest level, and across the spectrum of companies.
I've been working since I was 12 years old, earning my own way. A real Horatio Alger story. Saved up $1700 (enough to buy a new car in those days) to go to University and worked through school as a freelance Layout Draftsman. I worked as an employee and as a consultant for many years to major US corporations, GM, IBM,GE, etc.,and aided or started several startups in the 80s and 90s.
I've never drawn a government paycheck in my life.
ALL commercial companies are loaded to the gunwales with treachery, dishonesty and betrayal. Everybody from the top down is aware of it and knows that you've got to be a player to survive and prosper. Every form of perfidy is permitted.
No one can be trusted. The naive who don't cover their power bases will lose them. The naive are those who believe that somehow merit will triumph. That the forces of market competition will triumph. It is that naivete that lead Alan Greenspan and Milton Freidman to state that in a Free Market system fraud was impossible, a notion that the events of the last few years have offered rich evidence to refute.
The vagrant notions of Free Market theorists are fantasies, mere smoke that is blown away by the slightest breeze of conflict.
25 - Clavos
And you lost out, didn't you,Igor?
Ya got screwed (but not kissed) and so you hate all businesses and business people.