Funnyman Dennis Miller in his weekly spot with Bill O’Reilly weighing in on everything from the Florida Republican Primary to Occupy Oakland and Sunday’s Super Bowl.  Too bad this thing aired Wednesday night – before the Trumpster endorsed Mitt Romney.  Guess we’ll have to wait for next week’s segment.

A couple of great lines before we get to the video…

“I say one man’s saving the world is another man’s vagrancy charge.”

“There are people in the world that want to do something about everything but don’t want to do nothing [sic] about anything.”

“What are they doing?  What’s the task?  It’s just so nebulous.  They might as well come out and say we want free rent.  Because they’re squatters that don’t do squat.”

Donald Trump endorses Mitt Romney in Las Vegas.  Sounds like a match made in Heaven, right?  Romney “likes to fire people” and Trump’s famous for…. well, firing people.  The Trumpster – who has been highly critical of the Former Massachusetts Governor –  now says his critical comments came “before he got to know him.”  Fair enough.  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!  But an endorsement now could mean credibility later when Trump decides to attack the candidate later with a third-party flanking.  I’ve never seen Trump’s flirtations with a White House run as anything more than a glorified publicity stunt; but it could happen.

That said, and for what it’s worth – and I say that’s very very little – Mr. Trump says he’s put the idea of an independent candidacy behind him; as long as Mitt Romney’s the nominee.

Wait.  Does that mean “A vote for Romney is a vote” against Donald Trump?  I think that may be the best argument for a Mitt Romney primary vote I’ve heard to date.  Vote for Romney so Donald Trump goes back to telling celebrities what to do on his garbage television show?  I think I might buy that if it didn’t sound so unbelievably too good to be true.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’d love to take The Donald at his word.  I just can’t.  It’s kind of fitting that on this Groundhogs Day where that dirty little tree hugger saw his shadow; I can’t help but think that we’re all going to be spending the next six weeks of Winter reliving this day – as Trump proudly proclaims his endorsement led to seemingly predestined Romney victories between now and Super Tuesday.  What I’m saying folks is this.  If you think this is going to make Donald Trump – go away- you’re friggin fired!  Dude just found a way to claim at least a piece of the Republican nomination.

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Funny side note:  In a phone interview with Neil Cavuto on Fox News, The Donald just said, “Some people think it’s an important endorsement; some people think it’s the most important endorsement.”

This guy!!

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Did I mention Trump’s selling a new book – Time to Get Tough

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich finished a distant second to Mitt Romney in Florida’s Republican Primary, but emerged Tuesday night looking and talking like he won, something; or at least was going to win, something.  Speaking before a crowd of supporters – proudly holding “46 states to go” signs – the Former Speaker said he wanted to “reassure the media elite” that “We are going to contest every place; and we are going to win; and we are going to be in Tampa as the nominee in August.”

He was then kind enough to answer the question that most were probably asking – “How can that be true?”

People Power, of course.

Calling upon the words of Lincoln – like only Newt can do – Gingrich said he will survive, win, and ultimately emerge as the Party nominee because “People Power” will defeat “Money Power” in the next six months.  Hmmm…

He went on to say ”It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader Newt Gingrich and the Massachusetts Moderate.”  Anyone else wondering if he cared to ask Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, or the “People” that cast 21% of the vote for someone not named Newt Gingrich or Massachusetts Moderate?

Side note. Anyone else notice Newt went back to Massachusetts Moderate after testing Massachusetts Liberal over the weekend?

Speaking to his supporters after a sizable victory Tuesday night, Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney thanked the people of Florida, commended his opponents on a good contest and hard-fought battle, and took aim at President Obama delivering what was probably his best speech to date.  I’ve posted the video below, but first a few highlights.

“A competitive primary does not divide us.  It prepares us.”

“Three years ago this week a newly elected President Obama faced the American People; and he said ‘Look, if I can’t turn this economy around in three years, I’ll be looking at a one-term proposition’ and we’re here to collect.”

“Leadership is about taking responsibility, not about making excuses.  In another era of American Crisis, Thomas Paine is reported to have said, ‘Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way.’  Well Mr. President, you were elected to lead; you chose to follow; and now it’s time for you to get out of the way.”

Some pretty good stuff there from Governor Romney.  I actually heard the victory speech on the radio while in the car and was extremely impressed – so much so that the moment I got home, I pulled up the video so I could make sure Mitt Romney was actually the guy that delivered it.

On NBC’s Meet the Press with David Gregory Sunday, Arizona Senator John McCain “guaranteed” that the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United will ultimately lead to a scandal involving “foreign money… or the way the money was raised.”  McCain’s guarantee – which will no doubt be proven true by time and the mere fact that dirty politics extend to every branch of the tree of politics – followed a rant where he condemned Super PAC’s and The Supreme Court of the United States for its ruling in Citizens United.

Asked by Gregory what he thinks of the “negative ads” that have been generated by Super PAC’s, McCain said he “condemns them on all sides”; and then went on to say,

“And I condemn the United States Supreme Court for their naivete in their decision of Citizens United - which is an outrage.”

Condemn is kind of a strong word, no?  Dude’s a bleeping hypocrite.  If he was running in this race, he too would have a Super PAC – or two – doing his dirty work from a distance.  Disagree with the ruling, draft legislation to overturn it; but “condemning” the Supreme Court for a “Free Speech” ruling in the field of campaign finance???  Really?  Has anyone ever heard McCain this “outraged” about Roe v. Wade?  Ever heard him “condemn” anyone for that decision?  I must have missed it.

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Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and Arizona Senator John McCain shared the spotlight Sunday on Meet the Press with David Gregory to publicly support/defend their chosen candidates for president – Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney respectively.  While I’m not absolutely certain that any one topic was fully debated, the pair did manage to touch on a rather substantial list of hot button headlines – Sarah Palin/Bob Dole remarks about Newt Gingrich, Citizens United and the proliferation of SuperPAC’s, electability, Romney’s position on ObamaCare, the Florida Primary, and the Newt versus the “establishment” battle that more or less involved  each of the aforementioned topics.

I don’t know that turning to two surrogates is really ever the answer to these kinds of political debates, but it is somewhat fun when those surrogates are Fred Thompson and John McCain.  Watching Senator Thompson – old guy balding mullet and all – in the same camera shot as John McCain, I feel all but compelled to ask two questions I’ve probably asked a thousand times since 2008:  1) what the hell were “we” thinking nominating John McCain; and 2) why the hell didn’t Thompson put up a better fight when this guy was his only real competition?  Gingrich, Romney, Santorum, Paul… blah, blah, blah, and blah.  I’d give anything to be sitting here today writing about the B-List field of Democrats hoping to oust President Thompson from the White House.

But we’re not.  So, instead of praising Senator Thompson; I suppose I should actually be really really angry with the guy.  I just can’t.  Not a fan of the reverse mortgage commercials, but the guy still knows how to sell/win an argument.

Commenting on folks like Bob Dole who have come out in opposition to Newt Gingrich’s candidacy, Fred posited;

“There’s some old score settling going on.  Newt had some run-ins with some people of his own party.  You know, but a lot of them – I’m not talking about Bob Dole – but a lot of them were holding Newt’s coat back when he conceived of a way for Republicans to take over and have the first Republican House Speaker in 50 years; when they balanced the budget; and held Bill Clinton’s feet to the fire; and got Welfare Reform passed; and we were winning elections.  His personality and his leadership skills didn’t seem to be a problem back then.  But when those poll numbers dropped off and we started losing some elections we should have won, everything changed.  And Mitt Romney’s been a front-runner for a long time and people are piling on the bandwagon.”

I completely agree with Fred here and I’m fairly certain I heard Laura Ingraham make a similar argument on ABC’s This Week as well.  Justified or misguided, Newt Gingrich was the face of conservatism in the 90′s.  All those willing to pile on him now certainly weren’t screaming as loudly back then as they are today.  Don’t get me wrong, a record is a record, and much of what Speaker Gingrich has done in the new millennium has helped tarnish his legacy with this conservative; but rewriting history with a John McCain or Bob Dole pen is both laughable and reckless from where I sit.

Newt may be the wrong guy for this post.  I conceded that openly.  But that doesn’t mean he definitely is; or that a guy who lost to Bill Clinton – or another that lost to Barack Obama – can persuade me either way.

As you probably know, I have yet to decide on a candidate – should the primary campaign make it til Super Tuesday where I’ll actually get a vote that matters.  So technically, I am “undecided.”  That said, a few things are anything but undecided at this stage in the race.

It would probably take divine intervention for me to vote for Ron Paul in a primary at this point.  There’s just no nicer way to say it.  I don’t think Rick Santorum will still be an option by the time the contest comes to Tennessee for a number of reasons I won’t mention here in the interest of time.  So, if my choice must come down to Romney or Gingrich, I will be choosing between two candidates that I have lambasted here at this site pretty much from the day it went public.   Choosing between two candidates I’d openly oppose if only I had a third option – not exactly the way I like to choose a candidate.  One is a guy I wholeheartedly believe will play the role of token republican every day he’s in office – if elected – and the other is a guy that could set the standard for “great presidents” in the new century; or be the worst president to ever carry an (R) next to his name.

My choice will be one that results from great deliberation.  And no matter how hard they try or how many surrogates they roll out; what won’t factor in is a fictional retelling of history by someone like John McCain that conveniently reflects favorably on the teller’s past and/or clairvoyance about the future.  Newt’s downside and his negatives are anything but a lost on this relatively young conservative; but neither is the ceiling on the potential of one Mitt Romney and I’m just not certain it is really all that high.

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For those of you that expected to see Former Senator Rick Santorum on Meet the Press Sunday morning, and those who have heard rumblings that the Santorum camp was pulling out of Florida, there is a bit of troubling news.  Senator Santorum and his wife Karen were forced to admit their 3-year old daughter Bella to a Pennsylvania hospital reportedly due to complications from Trisomy 18 – a genetic condition the little girl was born with.

“Rick and his wife Karen are admitting their daughter Bella to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia this evening,” Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

Admittedly, I knew absolutely nothing of Trisomy 18 – also referred to as “Edwards Syndrome” – before Senator Santorum entered the race and mentioned that his daughter had special needs.  I still know only that which I’ve found through simple Google searches that were inspired by watching a video (posted below) the Santorum campaign released last year “Meet Our Daughter Bella.”  That said, I’m certain we will hear much more about the genetic disorder in coming days as news of this unfortunate development is circulated.

I’ve posted below a bit of background information I picked up at Trisomy18.org.  You can also learn a bit more about the disease here at the A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia.  Our thoughts and prayers humbly go out to the Santorum family and little Bella and we  certainly hope for a speedy recovery from whatever it is that is currently ailing her.  Various reports say Santorum will return to the presidential race in short order; although I am certain it is not high on the list of his current priorities.

Newt Gingrich says he’s in it to win it – all the way to the convention.  Despite poll numbers that show Governor Mitt Romney pulling out to substantial margins in Florida, the Former Speaker appears supremely confident that the conservative base is inevitably going to coalesce around his candidacy and lead him to the nomination over the candidate he is now referring to as the “Massachusetts Liberal.”

Just in case you’re keeping score at home, that’s a step beyond calling him the “Massachusetts Moderate.”  I’ll leave to your better judgment whether there is really any difference between the two.

“This race is going to go on.  Conservatives clearly are rejecting Romney… Once you get beyond Florida, these are all proportional representation states, and he’s not get anywhere near a majority by April.  This is going to go on all the way to the convention.  Conservatives are going to come together and decide they do not want a Massachusetts Liberal in the White House.”

Speaker Gingrich also points out that “grassroots conservatives” are already moving in the direction of his campaign.  Herman Cain announced his support for Gingrich’s candidacy Saturday night, Governor Rick Perry endorsed Newt on his way back to Texas, Todd Palin cast the vote of the Palin family with his wife sure to follow, and Former Senator Fred Thompson got on the Gingrich bus last week.

Could he have a point?  Perhaps, but I do believe the biggest obstacle standing between Gingrich and a great conservative out-pouring is the fact that while grassroots conservatives may be less than enamored with Governor Romney, they’re anything but thrilled about the Gingrich they’ve seen for much of the last decade.

In full disclosure, I find myself in this politically-torn group.  We’re the folks that see Romney as McCain 2.0; see Ron Paul as a necessary distraction, Santorum as the man the MSM and Left would love to use to turn this campaign into a misguided contest about “pro-gay versus anti-gay”, and Gingrich as the man we’d support if we could only remember the high points.

I know it’s anything but a revelation for me to say I think Speaker Gingrich is being a little arrogant in assuming that “we” will all come flocking his direction.  An abundance of confidence has never been his problem.  Where I think Newt may fall drastically short is in the department of dolla dolla bills.  Florida is quickly making the case that money can make the votes come round.  If Newt plans to take this thing all the way to the convention, he’s going to have to find a way to start raising money like the “Massachusetts Liberal” he aims to defeat.

“When we get to a positive idea campaign, I consistently win.  It’s only when he can mass money to focus on carpet-bombing with negative ads that he gains any traction at all.”

Fair enough, but he needs some cash and he needs it now or his “positive ideas campaign” is going nowhere fast.  If I were Newt, I’d take the long way home from Florida; and maybe make a stop up there in Alaska.  And is much as it pains me to say this, he needs to beg Sarah Palin to get on board officially behind his campaign.  He needs money, and she could bring it over night.  The only downside is that Gingrich – who has almost completely refused to use surrogates – would instantly have one that even he could not control.  Is he willing to pay that hefty price?

Speaker of the House John Boehner sat down with George Stephanopoulos fill-in Jake Tapper Sunday on This Week and was asked to weigh in on a variety of topics ranging from the resignation of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to the GOP field and the Keystone Pipeline.  It would be more than dishonest to say that anything game-changing or even newsworthy came out of the interview, but he is the Speaker of the House, so here you go.   Knock yourself out…

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich threatened after NBC’s debate Monday night that he would not participate in future debates if audiences were told beforehand to remain silent.  Well it seems he may be looking to walk that threat back a bit now as Pro-Romney supporters clearly outnumbered the Gingrich kind Thursday night in CNN’s attempt at hosting the 19th GOP debate of the primary season – so much so, that the Gingrich camp is claiming the audience must have been stacked.

It was clear to me while watching the debate that the audience favored Mitt Romney.  Whether that was a result of luck or something sinister, I’m in no position to weigh in on.  That said, I do believe it could have merely been a result of the fact that the Governor was on the offense the entire evening and his training sessions with Michele Bachmann’s debate coach appear to be “paying off.”  I throw the quotes in there; because from where I sit, that may help him to win the battle, but it is surely going to cost him the war.  Congresswoman Bachmann is the most annoying person I have ever seen debate – period – and Romney was beginning to look and sound a lot like her Thursday night.

I’m sure Gingrich and his camp are really just looking for answers as to why his performance appeared so flat.  Maybe it’s just because he’s never really looked that comfortable sitting in front of the pack.  Good news for Gingrich, polls are now showing Romney has moved out to a commanding lead in Florida.  Too bad for Gingrich, a 20th debate isn’t on tap before Floridians head to the voting stations.