Althouse: "Santorum Mocks Romney Over Olympic Games Experience."

February 18, 2012

"Santorum Mocks Romney Over Olympic Games Experience."

"He heroically bailed out the Salt Lake City Olympic Games... by heroically going to Congress and asking them for tens of millions of dollars to bailout the Salt Lake Olympic Games. In an earmark."

53 comments:

Chip Ahoy said...: Okay I have to admit that had me laughing.; 2/18/12, 1:40 PM
Palladian said...: Better than Santorum's "heroic" attempts to use the power of the Federal government to "save" Terri Schiavo.; 2/18/12, 1:41 PM
chickelit said...: Let's have a mock-athon!; 2/18/12, 1:49 PM
traditionalguy said...: That Catholic boy can sure counter punch. He is better than most politicians that I have seen.

The quickness of that counter punch delivered using one or two syllable anglo-saxon words has an effect.

Was he a boxer or a wrestler in his athletic days?; 2/18/12, 1:55 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Go, Ricky Go!; 2/18/12, 2:02 PM
MayBee said...: Back in the days when the US could still attract the Olympics.

Whether Santorum or Romney wins the nomination, I just want them to look at Obama and say, "Chicago is out? Chicago is OUT?"

ha ha ha ha ha.; 2/18/12, 2:35 PM
chickelit said...: MayBee said...
Back in the days when the US could still attract the Olympics.

Colorado could have easily had the Winter Olympics in the past. They never wanted them. At least when I lived there.; 2/18/12, 2:38 PM
MayBee said...: Colorado could have easily had the Winter Olympics in the past. They never wanted them. At least when I lived there.

I wonder if Mr and Mrs Obama (and Oprah!) would personally fly across the ocean to pitch for Colorado.

I remember when the WH blogger implied that people like Glenn Beck were unAmerican for thinking the Olympics were just too expensive for us to host.

Ah, the days when we were all supposed to be so crazy in love with All Things Obama.; 2/18/12, 2:44 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I think Santorum's interference in the Schiavo case cost him the senate election. It proved he was a whackjob buttinski.; 2/18/12, 2:44 PM
dhagood said...: actually, denver, colorado was awarded the 1976 winter olympics in 1970. in 1972, after a huge increase in costs and some (possibly faux) environmental concerns, denver withdrew. the 1976 winter games were held in innsbruck, austria.; 2/18/12, 2:59 PM
Writ Small said...: Get used to the phrase "Obama's second term."; 2/18/12, 3:00 PM
edutcher said...: Santorum better be careful about bringing up earmarks, as the Romney campaign notes.

He was possibly the worst.

WV "tinaCt" John Madden is writing the WVs now?; 2/18/12, 3:05 PM
MayBee said...: Get used to the phrase "Obama's second term."

I am prepared for the phrase "Obama's disastrous second term."; 2/18/12, 3:06 PM
kathleen said...: So now it's Romney's fault that Congress gave him money when he asked for it? Who was in Congress it gave Romney the money, Senator Santorum?; 2/18/12, 3:39 PM
I ♥ Willard said...: I am very worried that Willard will lose in his home state. Why doesn't Michigan love Willard the way the Professor and I do?; 2/18/12, 3:52 PM
Fen said...: Get used to the phrase "Obama's second term."

Doubt it. More than half the electorate will vote for Mickey Mouse or even Hitler to get rid of this incompetent.

DHOTUS's best hope is to screw up America so bad that no one can fix it.

Then we get either Facism or Socialism, and history gets rewritten by MiniTruth.; 2/18/12, 4:04 PM
edutcher said...: Writ Small said...

Get used to the phrase "Obama's second term."

Considering how very bad the economic numbers look (as in gas up by as much as $1 by summer from New Year's) and GodZero's poll numbers sinking by the bow (apparently people are seeing through the doctored U3), with Gallup having him down 5 in this week and Rasmussen down 4, the only second term Zero may have is for misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance.; 2/18/12, 4:06 PM
Cedarford said...: Fen said...
"Get used to the phrase "Obama's second term."

Doubt it. More than half the electorate will vote for Mickey Mouse or even Hitler to get rid of this incompetent.

===================
The great blunder litmus test right wingers can make is believing Rush, Hannity that Obama is so hated that this is extreme conservative's Golden Moment. Any True Believer can be elected..so it's in the bag for even a Santorum, or Goddess Palin herself if she is selected in a brokered Convention.

That thinking on the Democrat's side gave them Jean Claude Kerry when Bush deserved to be a one-termer.

In other news, Santorum declared himself the better Christian against Obama...; 2/18/12, 4:16 PM
Larry J said...: lewsar said...
actually, denver, colorado was awarded the 1976 winter olympics in 1970. in 1972, after a huge increase in costs and some (possibly faux) environmental concerns, denver withdrew. the 1976 winter games were held in innsbruck, austria.

And that's why Colorado has zero chance of ever getting the Olympics again. I've lived here for 26 years and dreamers still think they can bring the games here but it'll never happen. The IOC will see to that.; 2/18/12, 4:17 PM
Humperdink said...: Forty years ago Santorum's positions were mainstream, now he's a nutcase.

We've come a long way baby. (sarc); 2/18/12, 4:31 PM
I ♥ Willard said...: More than half the electorate will vote for Mickey Mouse or even Hitler to get rid of this incompetent.

You would vote for Hitler? :(; 2/18/12, 4:33 PM
Writ Small said...: Data for the doubters.

Santorum is a big improvement over Newt, but he hasn't got the cash or the organization to take on Obama plus the media. The economy is improving. Smart people will realize the recession was far deeper and longer lasting that it would have been had it been managed competently, but the media will trumpet every tiny drop in unemployment.

Meanwhile, Santorum as the nominee means the battle is going to be fought over social issues. Even though Santorum has the better arguments, the left has total home field advantage in this arena. Republicans beat Democrats when it comes to economic management and foreign policy, but social issues are the liberal's briar patch. There are very good reasons Santorum was the very last non-Romney chosen.; 2/18/12, 4:37 PM
Cedarford said...: Do keep in mind that a big loss from running a conservative ideologue that repels independents and moderates and gives Obama a huge reelection mandate will be a millions-making gold mine for conservative pundits in the entertainment business.
They will draw in the true believers and Fundies like flies to shit - increasing their audience rating numbers and show revenue.

The script almost writes itself. "We almost had true, evangelical pure conservative, but our guy was stabbed in the back by unenthusiastic Traitor RINOs and silly women, dumb minorities, heretics, and wishy-washy moderates. Take it from me, Rush, your voice in the Obama wilderness."; 2/18/12, 4:39 PM
IggyRules said...: That is hilarious. Mittens is finished. Santorum will win - not my first choice but better than McCain II. Don't pull an Ace of Spades and get all weepy.; 2/18/12, 4:48 PM
IggyRules said...: "possile faux" environmental concerns...? GEEZ.. DO YOU THINK????; 2/18/12, 4:53 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Has anyone seen Titus? I need a recommendation on a good stool softener.; 2/18/12, 5:00 PM
edutcher said...: Writ Small said...

Data for the doubters.

Santorum is a big improvement over Newt, but he hasn't got the cash or the organization to take on Obama plus the media. The economy is improving.

Horse feathers. All of it.

Gallup and Rasmussen both have GodZero dropping during the week

Ras' Approval index has him dropping 4 in that period.

One of the reasons the unemployment picture has temporarily gelled is because of a relatively mild winter.

CBO is predicting a U3 of 9 in the third quarter.

There's also Work Force Participation below 60%.

No, Zero is in deep tapioca and the polls are just beginning to show it; 2/18/12, 5:03 PM
edutcher said...: PS Santorum is not going to be the nominee.

We haven't even begun to hear about the fact he voted for everybody else's earmarks, as well as his own.

He's already starting to do his statist dance and that's going to turn people off.

PPS I was wondering why most of the trolls haven't been around the last couple of days (shock therapy, day at the zoo?).

Thanks, Ann, if upping the WV was your doing.; 2/18/12, 5:23 PM
Phil 314 said...: moderates and independents will not vote for Santorum.

Maybe its easier for the hard right to heckle than to collaborate?

Is Rick's strategy to sustain Catholic anger?; 2/18/12, 5:37 PM
AJ said...: You may be correct - but I wouldn't be so sure edutcher. Romney is really starting to smell – he’s past the due date. Funny how the opposite sides of the conservative spectrum – neo/paleo and moderates (RINO) - are his main supporters. Lots of people in those groups though.; 2/18/12, 5:46 PM
traditionalguy said...: Times are a changing fast.

With the smiling media image of a valiant Obama valiantly fighting the economic mess that he inherited, while the DOW is going up over 13000, and while the news releases of faked statistics showing unemployment down looking like a rebound in the economy, we are seeing a new election.

The inevitable Mr Fixit from Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan and San Diego and Grand cayman (where he owns some of his mansions), but who has no other issues to run on and no personality behind his slick grin is suddenly a the sure loser.

The trumpet call that will still arouse Americans to oppose King Obama's reelection will be well played Culture War Drums.; 2/18/12, 5:52 PM
edutcher said...: AJ said...

You may be correct - but I wouldn't be so sure edutcher. Romney is really starting to smell – he’s past the due date. Funny how the opposite sides of the conservative spectrum – neo/paleo and moderates (RINO) - are his main supporters. Lots of people in those groups though.

Truth to tell, I'm not sure Milton's going to be the nominee, either.; 2/18/12, 5:53 PM
Writ Small said...: Two charts:

Obama's job approval

Unemployment trend

The employment data is a train wreck, but the trend is up and the Media will spin hard.; 2/18/12, 5:55 PM
Writ Small said...: The idea that we can pick anyone we like and Obama is toast is wishful thinking in the extreme.; 2/18/12, 6:00 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Writ Small,

The idea that we can pick anyone we like and Obama is toast is wishful thinking in the extreme.

I'm not prone to wishful thinking and it's precisely the metric I'm using. Anybody But Obama is real.

To think otherwise is a sure sign that - rather than dealing in reality - you are in the grips of a media-inspired madness. Obama has one solid constituency that won't fold - blacks - but even they are softening. Every argument the Democrats can make to hold anyone else is easily destroyed by the facts - the facts on the ground.

Obama is toast.

And we can pick anyone we want.

It's that simple.; 2/18/12, 6:15 PM
Writ Small said...: CrackMC,

From your lips to. . . , well you know.

50% approval, recovering economy and a social conservative opponent with no money does not spell victory to me.; 2/18/12, 6:20 PM
Greg said...: Santorum opened a door that he'll wish he hadn't: Romney, in fact, did a lot more in SLC than ask Washington for money. Did he have help? Certainly. But Santorum's feeble effort to minimize what Romney did in 2002 will backfire on him. Try as I might, I can't imagine Santorum, Gingrich, Paul, or Obama accomplishing what Romney did in Utah. Nope, impossible to imagine.; 2/18/12, 6:39 PM
edutcher said...: Writ Small said...

Two charts:

Obama's job approval

Unemployment trend

RCP is for trolls. There are so many polls there that go by registered voters, out of whack MOEs.

As I say, Rasmussen shows him dropping

More to the point.

And housing is still a disaster. Can't remember where I saw it (link off Insta), but most of the houses that are being built are because many foreclosed homes have been vacant so long, they're unfit for habitation.

And, if gas prices are going to spike $1 before summer - and it's looking that way, that will kill any recovery; 2/18/12, 6:40 PM
Cedarford said...: Lets add to Writ Small and suggest that the more people get to know the Holy Warrior Rick, the more they will be like Pennsylvania voters.

In addressing a gathering of evangelicals in Ohio:

1. Santorum told them he was the most Christian of the candidates, and questioned Obama's commitment to the "Christianity we know", though he said that that does not make Obama non-Christian because Christianity encompassed all sorts of alternate ideas and paths of belief..

2. After doing his usual praise of what a gift his dying Trisome-18daughter is, Santorum came out against insurers offering pre-natal testing, and any government policy requiring insurers cover it.
" The Democratic president's health care overhaul encouraged abortions by requiring insurance plans to cover prenatal screenings."

"It saves money in health care. Why? Because free pre-natal testing ends up in more abortions and therefore less care that has to be done because we cull the ranks of the disabled from our society."

Rick is back to the "more Christian than thou" tactic he tried on Casey - going after Obama, but in a poorly veiled "reminder" about his Republican rivals as well.

As for telling people they should not have prenatal testing to ensure the nature of "God's gift" is only known at delivery....well, I think various groups will have some real problems with that..; 2/18/12, 7:08 PM
edutcher said...: Cedar is more interested in dissing Santorum for his beliefs, but Santorum's rep as a scold in the Jimmy Carter mold is, I think, going to do him in more than anything else.

And Bobby Casey got him on his profligate spending, not his stands on family affairs, not in a very Catholic state like PA.

PS WV in Latin. Can't wait for cunieform; 2/18/12, 7:23 PM
dhagood said...: @larryj:
And that's why Colorado has zero chance of ever getting the Olympics again.

i agree, but that didn't stop the state from applying to host the olympics recently. somehow i doubt that application will be favorably received by the IOC.; 2/18/12, 8:39 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: Well at least Salt Lake got the Olympics. Barry tried to pitch Chicago to the IOC and got shot down.; 2/18/12, 8:48 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Writ Small,

CrackMC,  From your lips to. . . , well you know.

I said Gingrich when others, here, said Romney for sure - Gingrich surged.

I said fuck Gingrich when his "second wife" showed up - others said she didn't matter - and then I went to Santorum, and the public followed.

I say I'm tethered to reality.
 50% approval, recovering economy and a social conservative opponent with no money does not spell victory to me.

The approval rating is a mirage, the economy isn't recovering (that's a media narrative) and money doesn't win elections in America. Ask Romney.

I don't know how many elections you've witnessed, but your analysis strikes me as shallow. Conservatives are, for the most part, Christian and concerned about the direction of the country, culturally. Santorum can't be hurt by emphasizing such concerns, except to the media which contributes to the problem. He'll do fine.

Cedarford,

Lets add to Writ Small and suggest that the more people get to know the Holy Warrior Rick, the more they will be like Pennsylvania voters.

He's running against Obama - it'll take more than Santorum's a conservative Christian to lose.; 2/18/12, 9:05 PM
Anonymous said...: Bush won.; 2/18/12, 9:11 PM
Cedarford said...: Crack -

I'm just one of those people that wants someone that actually has had success in fixing economic and fiscal problems vs. a slick lifetime pol in love with the sound of their voice and who keeps a tally of minutes of broadcast media airtime gained each week.
Or one that thinks prospective parents should not access pre-natal testing, but leave it in God's hands.

Conservatives are 20% of the population. Hardcore ones 5%. Liberal partisans are about the same numbers.
And we can look to them for what happens when enthusiastic liberals get their way with a candidate with little moderate and independent support.; 2/18/12, 9:41 PM
Sprezzatura said...: Now that the truth is out, wizerdave is going to need to have a liquidation sale.

Where's the love now?; 2/18/12, 9:49 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Up at REDDIT, they are having a contest. Letting people guess how many days, ahead, it will take for a gay sex scandle to break. Involving Rick Santorum.

Meanwhile, I think ANY of the current crop of GOP contestants, will lose to Obama. Heck, by now the republicans can lose to a Mickey Mouse toilet seat.

I stole that joke.; 2/19/12, 12:13 AM
Saint Croix said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/19/12, 7:03 AM
Saint Croix said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/19/12, 7:07 AM
Saint Croix said...: I am very worried that Willard will lose in his home state. Why doesn't Michigan love Willard the way the Professor and I do?

I think it's because Michigan has a lot of union Republicans, working class Republicans, ordinary Republicans. And Santorum is far more populist than Romney.

The media is attacking Santorum on social issues: abortion, gay rights, gay marriage. But most people are far more concerned about economic issues.

"It's the economy, stupid."

And on economic issues, I'm not at all sure that Romney is more libertarian than Santorum, or a more viable Republican.

Santorum seems to be doing better than Romney in the industrial states. His poll numbers in Ohio are off the charts. And Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, those are states Republicans would really like to win.

A loss in Michigan would kill Romney. A blue state! His home state! If he can't win a blue state, why the hell do we want him?

This election is going to be all about economics. Obama, after all, is opposed to gay marriage. And abortion is above his pay grade.

What Obama wants to do is to portray this race as an ordinary decent guy (him) against the callous rich millionaire who enjoys firing people (Romney). He wants to do his class warfare schtick. It's the reason for his whole frickin' existence.

If Santorum is our nominee, it throws Obama's whole campaign out of whack.

I really think this election is going to be all about our economy. Regardless of how the media wants to frame it. And while I think the "callous" charge against Romney is utterly unfair--he gave 15% of his frickin' salary to charity--I don't think the social attacks on Santorum are going to outweigh people's fears about inflation, unemployment, recession, etc.; 2/19/12, 7:11 AM
Unknown said...: C4: have enjoyed your political commentary and generally find it on target (that is to say, of course, I agree with it)

And I have to commend you for not mentioning progressive Jews recently--Did you, perhaps, get a visit from Mossad? :); 2/19/12, 8:41 AM
Roger J. said...: Apologies--"unknown's" post to C4 was mine. I hate to post anonymously.; 2/19/12, 8:45 AM
jeff said...: "The great blunder litmus test right wingers can make is believing Rush, Hannity that Obama is so hated that this is extreme conservative's Golden Moment. "

While some rightwingers dislike him, the vast majority do no think Obama is hated. That's silly.

"I'm just one of those people that wants someone that actually has had success in fixing economic and fiscal problems vs. a slick lifetime pol in love with the sound of their voice and who keeps a tally of minutes of broadcast media airtime gained each week."

So do those rightwinger referenced above. So if you do it, its logical thinking, but if the righwinger does it, its hatred?; 2/19/12, 10:02 AM