This deserves to be viewed on center stage.  H/T tnwahm…

(SPFB)…We have witnessed something very disturbing this week. The Republican establishment which fought Ronald Reagan in the 1970s and which continues to fight the grassroots Tea Party movement today has adopted the tactics of the left in using the media and the politics of personal destruction to attack an opponent.

We will look back on this week and realize that something changed. I have given numerous interviews wherein I espoused the benefits of thorough vetting during aggressive contested primary elections, but this week’s tactics aren’t what I meant. Those who claim allegiance to Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment should stop and think about where we are today. Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, the fathers of the modern conservative movement, would be ashamed of us in this primary. Let me make clear that I have no problem with the routine rough and tumble of a heated campaign. As I said at the first Tea Party convention two years ago, I am in favor of contested primaries and healthy, pointed debate. They help focus candidates and the electorate. I have fought in tough and heated contested primaries myself. But what we have seen in Florida this week is beyond the pale. It was unprecedented in GOP primaries. I’ve seen it before – heck, I lived it before – but not in a GOP primary race. (more…)

Sarah Palin appeared on the Fox Business Network with John Stossel last night, however, I’m afraid it largely flew under the radar due to the debate.  In the seven and a half minute interview, she maintained the establishment was trying to “crucify” Newt Gingrich, and “rewrite what it is that he has stood for all these years.”

Think about it.  The powers that be have all colluded to keep Gingrich and Santorum off the Virginia primary ballot.   What better way could there be to get your message across that you don’t want Mitt Romney as your presidential candidate?

(TheHill)…In a dramatic head-to-head contest that will win huge attention throughout the political world, I now believe that Ron Paul will defeat Mitt Romney in the Virginia primary. The implications could be enormous. This result would dramatize the fact that a majority of Republican primary voters favor a candidate more conservative than Mitt Romney. This prospect could also inspire the mother of all money bombs for the Ron Paul campaign.

If I were the campaign manager for the Gingrich and Santorum campaigns, I would be suggesting that all conservatives vote for Ron Paul in Virginia. Ditto the conservative movement leaders from all conservative points of view and throughout the conservative media.   (more…)

As Ronald Reagan used to say: Well.

(AmericanSpectator)…Yesterday we took note of former Reagan State Department official Elliott Abrams’ piece over at NRO that went after Newt Gingrich on his relationship with Reagan. While voting regularly with Reagan as a young congressman from Georgia, Gingrich, claimed Abrams, “often spewed insulting rhetoric at Reagan, his top aides and his policies to defeat Communism.” Abrams then goes on to cite ” a famous floor statement Gingrich made on March 21, 1986.”

Or sort of cites it.

In fact, I’m sorry to say, what appears to be going on here is that Elliott Abrams, a considerably admirable public servant and a very smart guy, has been swept up in the GOP Establishment’s Romney frothings over the rise of Newt Gingrich in the Republican primaries. He is even being accused of trolling for a job in a Romney administration. No way!!!! Really????   (more…)

Attention candidates!  THIS is how we want you to go after Obama…

Here’s Mark Levin defending Newt against Mittens on this afternoon’s radio show.   Consider this an ‘apres debate’ video to cleanse the palate.  H/T to “tnwahm”…

It’s becoming a lot clearer why we had the need for the flashing siren at Drudge’s and a hastily arranged interview with ABC and the ex-wife.  Poll numbers are changing, and what looked like a sure thing before the Fox Debate, has now proven to be not so sure.

(Newsmax)…An InsiderAdvantage poll conducted Wednesday night has former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now leading the Republican primary race in South Carolina.
The poll of likely Republican primary voters has Gingrich with 32 percent, ahead of Mitt Romney who trailed close behind at 29 percent.

“It means that the race is up for grabs,” declared InsiderAdvantage chief chief pollster Matt Towery in an exclusive interview with Newsmax shortly after the poll was conducted.

The results are a significant reversal for Romney, who had led polls before Monday’s Fox News debate. A poll conducted by InsiderAdvantage last Sunday showed Romney with a double-digit lead over Gingrich.  Towery, who predicted the outcome of the Iowa caucuses, and who has never missed on his final poll in South Carolina, said that Gingrich is now leading among men aged 34 to 27.  He is also leading among voters who identified themselves as independents by a margin of 33 percent, followed by Paul with 26 percent and Romney with 15 percent.  (more…)

Here’s hoping Team Gingrich has this one playing on a loop 24/7 in South Carolina.

(Newt2012)…The polls in South Carolina are tightening and Mitt Romney’s attacks against Newt Gingrich are getting more desperate and more dishonest. We’ve seen this play out before. The last time Mitt Romney ran for president, he ran equally dishonest and desperate attacks against John McCain and Mike Huckabee when he fell behind in the polls. To remind voters of Mitt Romney’s history of launching desperate and dishonest attacks against his rivals, Newt 2012 released a new web ad, “Desperate.”  The ad features clips of John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson remarking on Mitt Romney’s desperate attacks against them as well as his multiple positions on multiple issues.

Looks like they’re going to tease this thing out…

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Update #2…NEW YORK (AP) – An ABC News executive tells The Associated Press that the network has interviewed Newt Gingrich’s second wife and is likely to air the segment Thursday on “Nightline.”  That’s two days before the South Carolina primary, where the Republican presidential candidate is trying to topple GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.  The ABC News executive did not indicate what the ex-wife, Marianne, said in the interview and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plans for airing the interview were tentative.  (Read more…)

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Update #1…Reporters from Politico and the NYT are now saying the interview will air tomorrow evening, presumably before the debate….

(more…)