Lost and found

There's not much time, so I have to make this quick.  The primary in Florida gave an opportunity, and at least one of the candidates took it.  Gingrich spoke about space, Romney just gestured about it.  In the meantime, the proposition was ridiculed.  The ridicule took place of a serious and sober discussion of the topic of space.  Instead, it became a clash of egos.  For this, Romney takes the blame, because he obviously hasn't spent any time studying the issue.  He had to come up with something to mask his ignorance, or otherwise, he looks as shallow as his empty rhetoric.  He brought down the level of discussion, which is not in keeping with what most people seem to want.  Or what most people claim to want.

But at least the topic was discussed.  It is unfortunate how it got discussed, but at least it got discussed.  If Newt can make this close, Romney's spitball contest could be repudiated.  If anything, it could raise the level of discussion for this campaign.  On the other hand, if Romney gets a blowout victory, the opportunity may not arise again.  Instead, Romney's cotton candy campaign will be rewarded.  The likelihood of anything substantive coming out of his campaign will be lost as well.  The campaign needs to go on.  If Romney is to be the nominee, he needs to get a lot better.  If he can't nor won't, somebody else needs to be nominated.

Update:

There's a bit more time, so I'll add some more.  Forbes' Richard Miniter brought up a relevant point.  If he wins the nomination, Romney will have to unify the party.  This scorched earth campaign of his demonstrates a basic weakness which should not be ignored.

Meanwhile, Romney’s heavily negative advertising only drives Tea Party activists and other conservatives from one non-Romney candidate to another. Divide and conquer is a storied strategy; it may well work in Florida. But it doesn’t build votes for Romney.

You have to think ahead.  Even if he wins, what has he won?  If he gains a Pyrrhic victory, what will he have left to go against Obama?

Update:

The fruits of scorched earth politics.  National Review's cover of Gingrich as Marvin the Martian has given Bill Maher some ammo to use against Gingrich.  Did Newt deserve this?



Update:

One more thing. I want to tie in Bain Capital with this because it is symbolic. Romney was attacked for his role at Bain, but you don't have to look at that alone to judge if that attack was fair. Just look at the way he treated Newt. He claimed that Newt resigned the Speakership in disgrace, but is that accurate? Is it as accurate as his claims about space and about his own record with regard to job creation and as governor? How does he treat people? If the way Romney treated Newt in Florida is any indication, the attacks of his association with Bain are not to be lightly dismissed. It isn't just about making money at Bain, it isn't about just winning the nomination at all costs. There has to be an afterward. You can't afford to make too many enemies. You have to be able to patch things up later. Some wounds may not heal.