Year: 2015

GOP Flip Flops from ‘Freedom Fries’ to Francophiles

Jon Ponder

photo-freedom-fries

It’s well-established by now that, with the possible exception of agreeing to being lynched on the White House lawn, there is virtually nothing Pres. Obama could do that Republicans would support. No matter what he does, or does not do, they and their lapdogs in the “liberal media” will reflexively carp and complain.

Their current carp is that Pres. Obama signaled a lack of solidarity with France when he opted not to appear at the unity rally in Paris after the terror attacks there last week. A (poorly punctuated) Fox News headline summed up GOP upsetness: “Obama AWOL in Paris: Message to America, Allies Is We Don’t Care.”

Of course, had the president flown to Paris, Fox et al would be complaining now that he’d wasted money on travel and security to participate in what they would otherwise view as a substance-less, feel-good Kumbaya moment with other socialist world leaders.

[…]

Chait: Romney Will Come to His Senses

Buck Banks

Eight years ago, John Kerry briefly considered another run for president, after also having failed to oust an incumbent despised by his own party’s base and mistaking the outpouring of commitment on his behalf as an expression of personal loyalty, rather than the partisan loyalty it actually was. Soon enough, Kerry came to his senses. Romney will, too.

— Jonathan Chait, in New York Magazine.

A Romney Run Would ‘Upend the Race’

Buck Banks

It would upend the race. He leads in national GOP polls, but more importantly, Romney would start as the favorite in New Hampshire. The winner of the New Hampshire primary on the Republican side has gone on to the be the party’s nominee in nine of the last 11 presidential elections. Notably, that includes all of the last three cycles. Romney would also threaten former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and move New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie down a notch for the establishment track, setting up the potential for a protracted nomination fight between a couple of establishment candidates, the most viable harder-line conservative and possibly Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Of course, Romney came within 34 caucus votes of winning Iowa. And if conservatives split like they did last time, a Romney Iowa and New Hampshire sweep is possible.

— Morning Line.