And Then There Were Four

[Lord Jim]

It's about time:

Rick Perry dropping out of presidential race

(CNN) -- Rick Perry is telling supporters that he will drop his bid Thursday for the Republican presidential nomination, two sources familiar with his plans told CNN.

The Texas governor will make the announcement before the CNN debate in South Carolina, the sources said.

The South Carolina primary takes place Saturday.

It was not known immediately whether Perry will endorse another candidate.

Perry placed fifth in Iowa and last in New Hampshire -- a state in which he did not actively compete -- and had said he would launch a bid to win in South Carolina.

"South Carolinians are looking for a conservative candidate that will get this country back working again and I am it," Perry told CNN last week.

On Wednesday, CNN asked Perry about a poll that showed him with only 6% support among likely voters in the South Carolina primary.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/politics/ ... index.html

MSNBC is reporting he has a press conference scheduled today at 11 AM EST

He's been campaigning non stop in SC ever since Iowa, and despite a lott of effort and a fair amount of cash, he hasn't been able to move up past 5-6 percent. Apparently he's been under increasing pressure to get out before the vote, even from some close long time supporters.

His withdrawal isn't good news for Romney, but Perry's support level is so low that when you split it between Gingrich and Santorum, it's not going to make a significant difference.


Of all the candidates, Perry was the most disappointing to me. I never expected anything from Bachmann, Paul or Cain, but prior to his entry into the race, from what I did know about him, I thought Perry could be a formidable candidate, and I thought there was a good chance I would wind up supporting him for the nomination...

Then he got in the race and performed one pratfall after another, after another, after another....

It was Perry's vaudeville performance followed by the realization that no one else would be getting in the race that finally pushed me in to the Romney camp.

[Sue U]

A sad day for comedy.

But! See "Santorum Surge."

[dgs49]

It is unfortunate that our campaigns are mainly conducted through these quasi-debates. It is interesting to see how the various candidates do in the "debates" but very questionable whether they are a reliable indication of what sort of President the individual candidates would make.

Like Fred Thompson in the last cycle, I think Rick Perry could be a formidable candidate if we were doing things differently, but he just doesn't shine in these forums.

The only question is whether his endorsement of Newt will carry any weight. I doubt it.

[Lord Jim]

Newt has been showing some momentum recently in SC, (he's about ten points now behind Romney and 10 points ahead of Santorum) but he's about to get gob smacked by ABC with what will amount to a free infomercial for Rick Santorum.

ABC news is planning to air Friday night an extended interview with Gingrich's second wife, Maryanne...

From the excerpts I've seen, This is going to be very damaging for Gingrich with social conservatives right on the eve of the vote, and he is going to have no time to respond to it.

The former Mrs. Gingrich comes across very credibly, and in one clip I saw, she claims that before Gingrich asked for a divorce, he first came to her and asked to have an"open marriage"....

This will definitely be a boost for Santorum, which is of course indirectly good news for Romney. (And after the week he's had he can sure use some good news.)

Gingrich has been bitchily attempting to get Santorum to bow out, so that he can be the sole standard bearer for the Not Romney vote (this has obviously started to really annoy Santorum) but the fact is Santorum can make just as strong a case that Gingrich should be the one to bow out.

Gingrich bases his argument on the fact that he's running more strongly in SC and nationally in the polls than
Santorum; Santorum bases his argument on the fact that when actual votes have been counted, he has finished ahead of Gingrich. (In fact the final vote total in Iowa show Santorum narrowly beating Romney for first place)

Both arguments have merit; and so long as two Not Romneys can both make a credible case that they should be the one to stay in, and the other one should drop out, guess who the beneficiary is?

[Scooter]

When should you recognize you have an image problem?

When Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann look good by comparison.

[Lord Jim]

Oh boy...

This ain't over yet...

Three new polls are out today in South Carolina, and Gingrich and Romney are neck and neck:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -1590.html

[Scooter]

The former Mrs. Gingrich comes across very credibly, and in one clip I saw, she claims that before Gingrich asked for a divorce, he first came to her and asked to have an"open marriage"....

Not having seen the previews nor caring to watch the main event, I do have to wonder whether the interviewer bothered to ask her if it ever occurred to her that what went around might come around?

[Sue U]

Oh boy...

This ain't over yet...

Three new polls are out today in South Carolina, and Gingrich and Romney are neck and neck:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls ... -1590.html

Hahaha, Nate Silver is now saying it's a 50-50 chance for both of them. Go Newt!

Also, Go Cain! (He's appearing at a rally with Stephen Colbert -- an apparent admission that his campaign was just a comedy act after all.)

[BoSoxGal]

Scoot!

[Lord Jim]

Geez Louise, just when I think this thing is finally headed for resolution, it takes another twist...

I really thought Gingrich had been left buried in the snows of Iowa....

I expected Santorum to come up stronger than he has, but I never thought Gingrich would make a comeback....

As I've said before, for a number reasons I've outlined, I believe Gingrich would be a disaster as nominee; I think he would not only lose the election but do significant damage down the ballot....Unless unemployment goes to 10%, I don't see how he has a prayer...

Rick Santorum would run a stronger race.

[Liberty1]

Rick Santorum would run a stronger race.

Not when Newt has performances in debates like he did Monday, and Mitt's body language looks like he doesn't knpow what hit him.



It appears Newt's Ex can't get on with her life.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/19/maria ... %E2%80%9D/

Amid news that Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife Marianne’s interview with ABC will air tonight, a political veteran who has had past ties to Gingrich reminds me that the former Mrs. Newt Gingrich has long opposed his running for president.

“I think it matters that she’s been saying this shit for years — and has been doing things to tweak him for years,” said this source.

This is actually true.

As the New York Post reminds us today:

In 1995, when Vanity Fair magazine asked Marianne what would happen if Newt ran for president, she boasted she could derail the bid with a single TV interview.

“He can’t do it without me,” she said.

“I told him if I’m not in agreement, fine, it’s easy.

“I just go on the air the next day, and I undermine everything . . . I don’t want him to be president, and I don’t think he should be.”

“There’s always been a real — almost like a jealousy issue with her,” my source adds. “She likes attentiion. And she’s very bitter. And this is behavior of someone who likes attention and is very bitter.”

But apparently, she didn't want the divorce, he asked for it. Hmmm, she didn't want a divorce and is this bitter, maybe Newt made the right call.

[Sue U]

As I've said before, for a number reasons I've outlined, I believe Gingrich would be a disaster as nominee; I think he would not only lose the election but do significant damage down the ballot....

Also, he is gross, and I resent having to hear about his sex life. So, Go Newt!

[Lord Jim]

Well Sue, we all know that your idea of the GOP "Dream ticket" would be Bernie Madoff and Casey Anthony.....

[dales]

His next parole hearing is this year!

[Sue U]

But apparently, she didn't want the divorce, he asked for it. Hmmm, she didn't want a divorce and is this bitter, maybe Newt made the right call.

Uh, actually, Newt revealed to Marianne he that he had been having an affair (for six years!) wth a Congressional staffer -- in her home, in her bed, lying next to him while he was on the phone with her! -- and asked if she would consent to an "open marriage" arrangement where he could keep banging his mistress (saying she didn't care what he did) but stay married to her. When Marianne said "No freakin' way," he then "asked for a divorce."

Hell, I'd be bitter, too. The guy has the morals of a worm. But really, what could she expect? The worm was cheating on his first wife with her. Did she think he had suddenly turned into a prince? What goes around ...

[Liberty1]

Hey it 's just sex,it's none of your business. That's his personal life, it has nothing to do with his performance as a politician.



At least that's what all you Dems were telling the country when Bubba way lying under oath about his excapades. What's your problem.

[Scooter]

If Newt had chosen to keep his nose out of other people's lives, I would have said you were right. Instead, he ran on a political platform based on claiming that some people were out to "destroy traditional marriage" while he went around fucking any skank he could find behind the backs of two wives. Making a mockery of his own marriage while claiming I had no right to a marriage of my own made his adultery my business.

[Sue U]

Plus, there was that whole business about excoriating Bill Clinton for adultery while the whole time cheating on his own wife (with whom he cheated on his previous wife). Can you say "big fat hypocrite"?

Personally, I don't care about a poltician's sex life, I never have (didn't you see my post above where I said I resented having to hear about it?). But if someone presumes to lecture others about how they should conduct their sex lives, his hypocrisy is fair game.

ETA:

And by the way, I never made any excuses for Clinton's lying under oath.

[Lord Jim]

Scooter's points about Newt's hypocrisy (extolling the sanctity of marriage while cheating on his wife) are well taken, however Sue this:

Plus, there was that whole business about excoriating Bill Clinton for adultery while the whole time cheating on his own wife (with whom he cheated on his previous wife). Can you say "big fat hypocrite"?

is not, since the Impeachment (which I fully supported and still do) was about perjury, subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice, not sex.

Now, if you have some quotes of Gingrich criticizing Clinton for cheating on his, wife, then we'll have apples to apples...

[Lord Jim]

And now for something completely different...

Morning Joe's Willy Geist put together an "Adios Rick Perry" montage with his Greatest Campaign Moments: