If you take a look at the big picture, the Republican Party establishment views a Rick Santorum victory in Mitt Romney’s home state of Michigan as a disaster.
In fact, ABC’s The Note reports that some GOP leaders believe that even if Romney loses here but goes on to win the nomination he will be permanently damaged heading into the fall general election.
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| (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) |
A prominent Republican senator told Jonathan Karl of ABC that he will call for someone new to get into the race if Romney falters in the state where he grew up.
“If Romney cannot win Michigan, we need a new candidate,” said the senator, who has not endorsed anyone and requested anonymity.
If Romney recovers from a Michigan loss and wins the GOP nod, what would happen in the fall? “We’d get killed,” was this senator’s response to Karl.
And if Santorum gains enough momentum from a Michigan win to capture the nomination? “He’d lose 35 states,” the senator predicted.
You can read more here.
I consider this an accurate assessment, but not for the reasons mentioned. Divisions in the party are as they run farther and farther to the right on ECONOMIC issues. The DEMS have made social issues. i.e. abortion, no longer a priority. GOP candidates are left with "pity the billionaire" who pays less taxes as a percentage as does his secretary. This is a ludicrous position, but one that the GOP with its heavy hitter donors, is comfortable peddling. We also decry "European Socialism" and the "statist model" (Rick Santorum 02/17/2012 at Palazzo Grande, Shelby Michigan), but recent studies show that citizens in Europe have more a chance to rise economically than U.S. citizens. Health care has risen 10-20 the rate of inflation for 20 years. Foreigner are afraid to visit the U.S. for fear that they may get sick or be injured and require health care services and be bankrupted. Our longevity and over all health is pathetic compared to what we spend. Statistics comparing European nations education performance is OK to judge education and "reform" teacher tenure, charter schools and other reforms, but not health care or the insurance industry, or how we have become a economic caste society. Stated otherwise, we are no longer a meritocracy. The economic royalists control the levers of power more so than in Europe. Look at Germany. 33% in unions (11% here); 25% of GDP spent on social programs (18% here). If you are the richest 1% you stay the 1% and if you are born poor, or become poor by the stripping out of the manufacturing sector, you will statistically remain there. According to H.G. Wells, the next step is speciation into Morlocks and Eloi, and according to Marx revolution. We have entered an age of neo-fuedalism, and reversed what our founding fathers fought and died for.
On the issue of politics, a deeper, mor sinister issue is revealed. Why does the Senator need to remain anonymous. It is because he is afraid, not of the DEMS, but of his own GOP party. This is the reason George Washington was AGAINST political parties. People cannot speak their minds openly lest forces in their OWN party conspire to demagogue them. Meanwhile, the throngs (age 65-80) at Palazzo Grande cheer as Rick Santorum says that cuts need to be made to social security and medicare, while ominously warning that he will "do something" about Iran's nuclear program if elected President.