Let's stop kidding ourselves.

[J. J.]

At this point in 2008, wasn't everyone saying the same things about Romney and Clinton?

SC will be the key.  Romney's performance in IA was better than I expected (I though Paul would come in first).  He is expected to do well in NH, but the voters there are notoriously difficult to poll.  If Romney wins SC, I'll be ready to hand him the crown, but not just yet.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Naturally, given my current user name, I am thrilled to see that Mitt Romney is likely going to be the nominee.  I also think, even with the uptick in the jobs report, that he has a very good chance to become the 45th President of the United States.  My prediction is that on March 7, the morning after Super Tuesday, we will unofficially begin the general election campaign that will last 8 full months.   The reason I don't think we'll see it before then is Rick Santorum and Ron Paul will probably hang around until March 6.  What's more, if that happens, the general election campaign will begin a full 5 1/2 months before the Republican National Convention, and with Mitt Romney's warchest, he will undoubtedly have the resources to wage a huge battle against President Obama for 8 solid months.

[NHI]

Given Romney's seeming coronation, is it safe to say this is proof that the Tea Party is a spent force, even within the GOP?    

No, they will come out in full force for Romney. Why? Anti-Obama senitment, and Romney is actually with the Tea Party on economics.

[Iosif]

At this point in 2008, wasn't everyone saying the same things about Romney and Clinton?

No.

[tmthforu94]

U jnwq drom the rwfubbubf nurr qiyks qub! A AIIB a xgeuaruw aUS BI.

Are you speaking Mandarin?

Uh...I think I got off one letter on the keyboard.

...Oops...

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

U jnwq drom the rwfubbubf nurr qiyks qub! A AIIB a xgeuaruw aUS BI.

Are you speaking Mandarin?

Uh...I think I got off one letter on the keyboard.

...Oops...

The Manchurian Poster.

[Volrath50]

Up until the fall of Gringrich, I really didn't think Romney would be the nominee. I thought the GOP base would unify behind an anti-Romney at some point. They did, several times, but each one failed so badly...

Since Gingrich's fall, it has been clear Romney is heading to a coronation. I still hold out hope someone (probably Santorum, possibly a revived Gingrich) could at least make it a fight, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.

[Middle-aged Europe]

At this point in 2008, wasn't everyone saying the same things about Romney and Clinton?

No.

At this point in 2008, Obama and Huckabee had just won Iowa.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Romney's candidacy is like Bob Dole's candidacy in 1996: a weak candidate who easily won because of two things: his opponents were even weaker and it was, well, "his turn". This is a dream scenario for the Democrats, of course (although an old Dole was a passionate and principled man if only by pure comparison).

Of course, if Obama fails epically, it can be Reagan 1980: another weak candidate with even weaker field, who happen to face even weaker incumbent, but I doubt this will happen again.

[Frodo]

Given Romney's seeming coronation, is it safe to say this is proof that the Tea Party is a spent force, even within the GOP?    

No, they will come out in full force for Romney. Why? Anti-Obama senitment, and Romney is actually with the Tea Party on economics.

He may today. But what about tomorrow?

We can say a lot of things about Teflon Mitt, even I admit that, but he's always been ironclad on fiscal issues.

Has he?  Didn't he flip-flop on the no-tax-increase pledge?

[Lincoln Republican]

A fundamental rule to keep in mind, regardless of the subject

It's not over until it's over.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

At this point in 2008, wasn't everyone saying the same things about Romney and Clinton?

lolno.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

At this point in 2008, wasn't everyone saying the same things about Romney and Clinton?

No.

At this point in 2008, Obama and Huckabee had just won Iowa.

And Hillary's only hope to hang on at this point in 2008 was winning in NH, where she was trailing (had she not pulled that upset, she'd be finished early).

[Joe Biden 2020]

A fundamental rule to keep in mind, regardless of the subject

It's not over until it's over.

That we must remember.  Things can turn on a dime in politics.

[All Along The Watchtower]

This whole primary season is like a bad season of American Idol, where everybody knows who the winner will be when there are still eight people left.

[Joe Biden 2020]

This whole primary season is like a bad season of American Idol, where everybody knows who the winner will be when there are still eight people left.

Isn't that almost every year, at least as far as the bad season is concerned?