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Sunday Roundup

Posted: 03/25/2012 12:00 am

Despite his big victory in Illinois on Tuesday, this was not a banner week for Mitt Romney. Indeed, he experienced a PR disaster when his longtime adviser Eric Fehrnstrom likened him to an Etch A Sketch: "You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again." Santorum and Gingrich quickly began brandishing the toys at campaign events. Will classic toys now become a 2012 leitmotif? Will Romney whip out a Slinky when he talks about Gingrich or a Mr. Potato Head when he goes after Santorum? Will Ron Paul feel left out and challenge the others to a round of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots? Will voters forget about debates and use a Magic 8-Ball to determine who to vote for? One thing's for sure: No one who has been paying attention to this campaign will compare any of the candidates to a Lite-Brite.

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09:37 PM on 03/25/2012
When I hear Romney say let the market work, it just tells me this guy still thinks he is at Bain Capital. For my Catholic friends Santorum and Gingrich, you guys need to attend catechism classes again and read about the various sins our Church teaches about.

In the market, human beings will always be greedy and selfish. Markets can never help anybody. Any Christian who puts faith in the market than his or her Christian values is a fool.
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09:36 PM on 03/25/2012
Unfortunately, though, it always seems to be the right which defines (and thus controls) the conversation, especially when it comes to snide bumper-sticker type metaphors.
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LFox6
Always remember you are unique, like everyone else
09:36 PM on 03/25/2012
It only matters to those who won't vote GOP anyway lol - so go ahead and enjoy yourselves while you can. You'll be whistling Dixie come fall ;-)
09:35 PM on 03/25/2012
I am conservative and a real committed Christian (Catholic) too. Normally, I would support a fellow Catholic. I also believe in small government and limited spending. Additionally, I am a registered Republican and had been a strong supporter of George W. Bush, a man who I continue to respect because he did things with honesty nor politics.

That said what I am seeing with the Republicans field today is far from Christianity. It looks like they are living in another form of Christianity that Jesus called pharisaic life. Only the pharisees and sedducees lied, cheated and hated people while pretending to be Christians. One reason why the current Republican field is so weak is because the contenders are full of lies. If you lie God cannot bless you and therefore you will not succeed. These people lie about everything and at the same time support things that are unGodly. In no way would Jesus support the rich, who are already poweful by virtue of their wealth, at the expense of the poor. No body wants to be poor so for some in my party to blame poor people is just crazy and silly. I think we the Republicans supposed to call for more stimulates spending for the poor than the "ungodly" Democrats. Instead the Democrats are the ones standing by the poor while we stand by Goliahs. On the issue of health care, we stand with insurance companies and the Democrats stand with the sick with no assets.
Mildmannered
"Be excellent to each other"
09:05 PM on 03/25/2012
And who is Silly Putty?
09:55 PM on 03/25/2012
I think that would be Obama. He seems to be like putty in the hands of Republicans.
Mildmannered
"Be excellent to each other"
09:04 PM on 03/25/2012
Which republican candidate is a "pet rock?"
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Bud Russo
2012 will be a Republican nightmare.
09:15 PM on 03/25/2012
Possibly all of them. Just being kind.
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10:37 PM on 03/25/2012
All of them, except Ron Paul.
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Roses
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
08:58 PM on 03/25/2012
How about a kite....goes which ever way the wind is blowing. In Santorum's case a nice square, box kite.
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LFox6
Always remember you are unique, like everyone else
09:35 PM on 03/25/2012
No, that distinction belongs to the current WH resident
08:18 PM on 03/25/2012
Whack-A-Mole comes to mind.
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DonKrieger
Talented amateur - thinking it through ...
07:07 PM on 03/25/2012
Regardless of whatever level campaign rhetoric rises or falls, it is ultimately the responsibility of the electorate. Remember that the stuff that sticks is the stuff that draws a response in the polls, both telephone and real.

When we scoff and sneer and call each other names, we are using school yard tactics. This is consistent with Arianna's use of toys and games to caricature the candidates and their campaigns.

In the end though, the powerful can get bitten by overestimating the childness and gullibility of the electorate and underestimating their ability and willingness to recognize a lie and reject it. Recall the Republican Congress' Terri Schiavo law and the effect it had. Recall John McCain's arrogant desparation in selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate and his equally arrogant concession in appearing on Saturday Night Live with Governor Palin the Saturday before election day. Recall the excesses of President Clinton and President Nixon. These were all instances when the powerful over reached themselves and go smacked down for it along with their parties.

The productive angle on this is "how do we promote intelligent electoral behavior?" Clearly our system is corrupt and close to broken. Come on you "occupy Wall Street" people and "Tea Party" people and Christians and everyone. How do we the people get it to work better? It's a sure thing that school yard stuff doesn't work. And it's just as sure that taking an unmoveable position based on something we believe doesn't work either.
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DrJykell
Truth hunter
08:05 PM on 03/25/2012
United---the American people are a very powerful entity but as long as people believe "we the ppl" are the problem and are causing big business problems we're as divided and weak as any other third world population living under a fascist dictatorship...

The shifting center is what needs attn---the acceptance of the end of due process at any level, on any issue marks the beginning of the end of true democracy--and the voice of the ppl....
Privatization and deregulation set up the signs that say to the American ppl--Keep Out!

Occupy and Tea could be what brings back the We the ppl govt corporations are trying to destroy and demonize for all future generations---and if that happens we'll all look back in sadness as we then will see how easy we the ppl were to con and divide.
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10:39 PM on 03/25/2012
it's all about not being afraid. watch some of the old civil rights movies...they really had alot to be afraid of. we could all do alot more.
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DonKrieger
Talented amateur - thinking it through ...
06:08 AM on 03/26/2012
Let's stop responding to polls. Starve the political operatives for information.
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09:40 PM on 03/25/2012
Please, underestimate the electorate??? They make choices based solely on whether they fear the other candidate more than the one they are voting for. Unfortunately that was just as true with electing Obama. McCain was not only out-of-touch, he was seen as the heir to Bush who, by that time, was despised for 2 seemingly pointless wars and an economy in free fall.
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DrJykell
Truth hunter
06:58 PM on 03/25/2012
Romney represents the billionaires and millionaires complete disgust with the GOP---and the stupity in the primaries proves it---Romney represents the complete corporate takeover of the American govt..
06:55 PM on 03/25/2012
How about wak a clown....3 of them and 1 Ken Doll.
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teddyr
05:20 PM on 03/25/2012
Let's add a Barbie doll to the GOP view of women. Barbie cannot get pregnant so no contraceptives.
She dresses beautifully and keeps her mouth shut. Her education is limited so she won't mind the negatives thrown at women.

And do the GOP men realize that the sex they enjoy having with their mistresses, will be cut back. These women do not want to get pregnant, so when they want to have some fun on any given day, the mistress will say, "not today". No protection. Sorry". I wonder if that would change their opinion of contraceptives. Of course, Barbie wouldn't do that. She'll just get pregnant and force marriage. Just ask Edwards.
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kalidescopemind
My glass is 1/4 full '(
04:05 PM on 03/25/2012
I suggest that President Obama liken the Republican field to Silly Putty, as Citizens United v. FCC has made it the new reality, vis-a-vie their donors!

Thanks Supreme Court!
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Roses
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
08:55 PM on 03/25/2012
Silly Putty is a great analogy .....especially the silly part.
03:25 PM on 03/25/2012
I learned paper airplanes work quite well at larger gatherings. Romney can't find his way into an arena where the first three rows are filled...so maybe he should use his light bright instead.
03:22 PM on 03/25/2012
There's nothing wrong with Art-ification among friends! :) Romney has a blabbermouth for a spokesperson, that's all.