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Mitt Romney came out swinging against President Obama today.  After last night’s inspiring State of the Union, Mitt Romney said that President Obama “is detached from reality.”  The remarks come in what looks like a silly attempt to cast some red meat zingers to impress GOP voters, trying to reinvigorate his failing campaign.

But calling President Obama out of touch, really?

Mr. Romney should take a good hard look in the mirror before he accuses anyone else of being not in touch with how things are in this country.  It is the former governor of Massachusetts who said that making a few hundred-thousand dollars from speaking fees wasn’t much.

In release of his tax records, we discover that Mr. Romney makes over $50,000 a day.  No, that’s not per year.  Mitt Romney makes more than most of us make per year in every 24-hour period.   And he doesn’t have to work for it either – it’s money made on money.

I’ve got nothing against wealth or making money, but the more successful we are, the more compassionate we should become for those of us who have less.  That isn’t the case with Mitt Romney who views anyone less than a millionaire as not important.  Mitt Romney said that foreclosures run their course and “hit the bottom.”

Romney’s callous attitude toward working Americans – saying he “like to fire people” – is just another example of someone whose wealth has totally removed him from everyday life.Out of touch?

Detached from reality?  Yes, Mr. Romney, that’s you!

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Last night’s debate was boring compared to the last few.  Newt Gingrich was subdued mainly because he was missing his cheering section who give him a standing ovation every time he drops racist hints and asserts that child labor laws should be lifted to work poor children.

Last night’s debate of “fewer than 500 people,” according to the New York Times, was composed of “business leaders, academics and even the British and French ambassadors to the United States.”

The biggest fireworks last night came from Mitt Romney who repeatedly attacked Gingrich on his ethics record and lobbying.

NBC made a wise decision in going for a smaller, more intellectual audience last night.  Without the rallying crowds, last night’s debate showed Gingrich for what he truly is:  a power seeker who feeds upon ignorance.

Romney Unleashes Attack With Gingrich Sole Target – NYTimes.com.

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What a crazy race it’s been! But oh what fun watching the GOP unable to get its act together!

Texas Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race this morning.  Almost at the same time, Iowa‘s Republican Party declared that Rick Santorum – not Mitt Romney as earlier announced – is the winner of the GOP caucus.

“There is no viable path forward for me,” Rick Perry said.  Perry took a big hit in  after his “oops” moment in an earlier debate.  But the Fox debate the other night is what defeated his campaign.

A few evenings ago, in response to a foreign policy question, Perry called Turkey a terrorist nation – in fact, Turkey is a solid U.S. ally and is considering European Union membership.

The State Department had to scramble to sooth hurt feelings with Turkey.  But worldwide, international leaders questioned why someone so ignorant could even be running for president.

Perry endorsed Newt Gingrich but his endorsement may not draw voters for Gingrich, especially in South Carolina who vote this Saturday.  Evangelicals and social conservatives are not as impressed with Gingrich as they are with a social conservative like Rick Santorum.  Gingrich’s three marriages and history of marital infidelity are a big negative to religious right voters.

“Newt has the heart of a conservative,” Rick Perry said.

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Jon Huntsman dropped out of the race this morning for the GOP presidential nomination, narrowing the field of contenders just days away for the South Carolina primary.

In leaving the campaign, Mr. Huntsman endorsed front-runner Mitt Romney.  There is no indication whether his endorsement will have any effect on the Republican voters to sway them over to the former governor of Massachusetts.  Conservatives and Tea Party voters are not warming up to Mitt Romney but the fact is that he will most likely be the Republican nominee at the end of the process because he has the money to keep on going as the rest drop off.

The former governor of Utah was low on money and in a tie at the bottom with Texas governor Rick Perry.  Although some people thought that Mr. Huntsman was the only adult among the group, he never caught on with the Republican base.

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What a mess!  The Republican party is showing how fractured it is between social conservatives and party elites who just want to defeat President Obama.  Last night’s Iowa Caucus – the first election of the political season – wound up in a virtual tie between social conservative Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney, leaving all the others, except for perhaps Ron Paul, in the dust.

This morning, Michele Bachmann announced her decision to quit the race, effectively allowing the anybody-but-Romney religious right to throw their support behind Mr. Santorum, thereby increasing his numbers.  Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Senator John McCain formally endorsed Mitt Romney.

Senator McCain – in his usual headline-stealing style – chose to announce his support for Romney during a televised speech by President Obama this morning, probably hoping the networks would leave the president to cover him (they didn’t, they instead just split the screen).  This move may not play well for Mr. Romney in the general election.

One thing for sure, the G.O.P. race this year is entertaining – like a clown car sort of entertaining, that is.

The Associated Press: Bachmann quits race, says she’ll fight for issues.

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Donald Trump has decided not to participate in his own debate which was scheduled for later this month.  Citing the potential of a “conflict of interest” in his statement earlier today, Mr. Trump said that he will consider announcing his own candidacy for president after his television program “The Apprentice” completes its season.

The debate was scheduled for December 27 on the ION network.  But only two candidates – Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich – had agreed to participate, all other GOP candidates had already declined.  Yesterday, Mr. Trump was making the rounds saying that his debate would instead be “a chat” between himself and Gingrich (apparently he was going to completely ignore Rick Santorum who had graciously agreed to participate).

It has been speculated all along that Mr. Trump’s debate or chat – or whatever he chose to call it – was a political maneuver to take control of the political process in the GOP.

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Mr. Trump, who is best known for his TV reality show “The Apprentice,” is evidently dismayed by the failure of his GOP debate scheduled for later this month – only two Republican candidates have agreed to participate, everyone else declined.

Always the publicity hound, Donald Trump has attempted to keep his name in the news by portraying himself as a major influence in American politics.  His debate, which will be televised two days after Christmas on ION network, was supposed to mark his power to name the GOP nominee.

Acting as “moderator,” Mr. Trump was supposed endorse his choice for president immediately afterward.  GOP bigwigs including Karl Rove came out against Mr. Trump, some likening his plans to a circus.

All Republican candidates – except front-runner Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – have declined to participate.  Some, like Mitt Romney, have been polite about it; some, like Jon Huntsman and Ron Paul, spelled out their disapproval.

Mr. Trump should go back to his television show and be happy with that.  Perhaps after the GOP selects its nominee, he can have the rest of them appear on a special GOP version of “The Apprentice.”  In other words, don’t try to turn our political system into entertainment.  Even though some of these candidates are a joke, the office of the president is serious and should be respected as such!

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