Florida GOP Primary Open Thread (UPDATED: ROMNEY WINS)
The polls close in most places in Florida now – in the panhandle they’ll close at 8 Eastern.
The polls close in most places in Florida now – in the panhandle they’ll close at 8 Eastern.
Most people who know me understand that I rarely ever use the terms “RINO” and “establishment” seriously. Β And in the instances I do, it’s usually sarcastically to make fun of someone one who has mistakenly interpreted my disagreement with other conservatives as a sign of my alleged “RINO” tendencies. Β The terms “RINO” and “establishment” have both, sadly, become the GOP’s version of the left’s “racism” cry – that is to say that I believe the terms have become meaningless because, like the left with the word “racism”, many on the right accuse someone of being a “RINO” or part of the “establishment” over simple disagreements that usually rise no where close to the level of someone being a “RINO” or “establishment” type. Β As an example, I was frequently called a “RINO” during the immigration debates during the Bush era because I was more in the middle on the issue than most conservatives were.
Was just on Twitter a few minutes ago and clicked on a link that my co-blogger Phineas Tweeted, which talked about how Newt Gingrich, who has claimed the mantle of “Reagan conservative” perhaps more so than any other GOP presidential contender this election cycle, was in fact not someone who always stood shoulder to shoulder with Ronald Reagan on key issues of the time – especially on Reagan’s signature accomplishment: his brilliant strategy for bringing down the Communist Russian empire.
Fortunately, Nikki Haley doesn’t to worry about my vote since I’m not in her state – Β at this point, my respect for her is dropping fast. Β With that said, I have to wonder how South Carolina votersΒ view this kind of sugary sweet suck-up BS?
The polls close in most places in New Hampshire at 7 Eastern time, with the remaining in a different time zone closing at 8 Eastern time. Nate Silver’s live-blogging the primary so make sure to stay tuned to him for updates, commentary, speculation, etc.
**Posted by Phineas