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Well, it sure looks like the regular folks in the GOP are lining up behind Rick Santorum. We know that I'm totally sold out on Santorum. I love him. No, seriously. You may be saying to yourself, "What would make an anti-authoritarian libertarian ideologue who couldn't even stomach McCain vote for Mr. Big Government Santorum?" I'm glad you asked. This is the best I can do, so here goes: There are two kinds of "establishment" candidates; the first kind rankles any normal person who can lay legitimate claim to having a conservative thought. He's the kind of candidate whose version of balance and electability is to capitulate to Democratic/socialist/progressive ideology only in part and in completely random fashion, such that one's own supporters want to strangle one. (McCain fits here, but in his defense, 2000 McCain was 1000 times worse than the 2008 version.) Think Nixon or Ford. People that provoke rightist third parties, and cause barely literate narcissist peanut farmers to be elected president. If you want to know which person this is, ask the voters of the Democratic party who they prefer. You don't want to be that guy. Even if you win the nomination, your supporters sit at parties saying, "Who are the stupid %^&%&! who voted for this guy?" and "This is why primaries should never be open." This year, that man is Romney. Ironically, last time, he got to be The Last-Ditch Hope against McCain. I never got that, but OK. With apologies to Tim, he may never understand how disliked McCain really is. He may even be genuine in his affection. But he's the epitome of why I am unashamed to be an ideologue. (See also Lugar, Richard; Hagel, Chuck; and Chaffee, Lincoln for some non-presidential examples.)
But there is one other type of establishment candidate who satisfies the needs of winning and governing pragmatically without alienating core supporters. You know he's not ideal or that you don't line up with him, but at the end of the day, he's one of ours. Such a man is very skilled, because he can explain himself without making you feel crazy or stupid if you disagree. This is Santorum. You tell me: Is it easier to move Santorum more conservative if the need arises, or is he at heart one who craves liberal acceptance? That's what I thought. The New Republic likes Romney. They think he'll win, too. That's all I need to know. I'll take Santorum's breaks from economic conservatism any day. In the end, he's not a statist, even if he plays the populist. And the next president gets 2 Supreme Court picks, minimum. You tell me: Would he lose re-election for the sake of defenseless babies? That's what I thought. Scalia may retire, but Breyer and Ginsburg definitely will. Justice Kennedy isn't long for this deal, either. It's 4-5 on abortion right now. Don't even try to tell me you wouldn't take a shot if it was your call. Romney's not at all certain to appoint pro-life judges. Gingrich can't win. Any questions?

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