Santorum on Hardball - Some thoughts

[DWolper]

There was a locked thread about Santorum on Hardball and I started to reply, but it was too late. My thoughts on this guy may not be appreciated, but I felt it should be said among all the posts that slam him so bitterly.

My thoughts...For me, I have always liked office-holders like Santorum. NOT his ideology/politics, but Santorum actually believes what he says and says what he believes. Unlike, the neocons who say one thing and do another or portray something one way when it's clearly the other, you KNOW where Santorum stands on each and every issue. No wavering - never. While I cannot stand the brand he's peddling, he's extremely well-spoken for a cause that I have no question he believes in, and is intellectually honest in his beliefs. Give me a Goldwater or Reagan for every Bush. Don't like any of their politics, but Goldwater/Reagan? You knew where they stood.

[Bunny]

1. Well, you got one thing right in your post.

I agree that your thoughts on the guy are probably not going to be appreciated.

[dave29]

2. He is as intellectually honest

as my left butt cheek.

[snowbear]

4. And Dave's left cheek lies like hell....

[DWolper]

5. Your left butt cheek

Your left (or right) butt cheek has no intellect. Do you know what "intellectually honest" means? It means what one believes intellectually (true beliefs) is expressed honestly and is not trying to cover-up, divert, mislead, etc. At least you know where they stand. What is so wrong with that?

[punpirate]

15. "Intellectually honest" doesn't just mean consistency...

... it means that one has actually thought about an issue and considered all sides and come to a conclusion based on evidence.

Santorum has never thought about anything seriously in his life. It's just not in him. You don't top the "Ten Dimmest Bulbs in Congress" list by being a deep thinker.

A pre-programmed automaton is consistent, too.

Cheers.

[Ouabache]

3. cnn's Inside Politics today said he is considering run for GOP nomination

for Prez. Would be funny if he could get it.

[peace frog]

6. Just as voters had chosen Carnahan the dead candidate

over the very much alive (and very frightening) John Ashcroft, Dave's left butt cheek over Santorum gets my vote as the more "intellectually honest" of the two. :rofl:

[DanCa]

8. welcome to Du Peace Frog and Dwolper (nt)

[peace frog]

9. Thankee kindly

:hi:

[lancdem]

7. A couple days ago he said he wasn't running

Now he's a flip-flopper?

[0007]

10. Jon Stewart smacked Santorum around real good the other night

on "Comedy Central". Yes everyone knows where this idiot stands and not many can appreciate Rick Santorum no matter how intellectually honest you think he is, everyone has an opinion......

[DWolper]

11. Groupthink

Sometimes I forget the groupthink that is so pervasive with some here. I wasn't praising Rick Santorum, I was only saying that I like people that actually stand for something and have the courage of their convictions...whether they are mine or not. Isn't that better than those who hide behind rhetoric to not appear extreme? Some here are so knee jerk that they can't see what I'm trying to say without spewing the same old hatred for those with whom we disagree. Times have changed sooo much.

[Catchawave]

12. I totally agree with you.

Welcome to DU ! :hi:

[0007]

20. Knee jerk? A half baked potato is still a potato it just doesn't

taste good, so why talk about it?

[sunnystarr]

13. Honest? Give me a break!

He represents PA yet he doesn't live there. He bought a rental home next door to his parents which he rented out right away. He collected money from his school district for the online charter school his home schooled children use. They sued due to residency requirements but filed too late and lost. He visits his parents on holidays, sometimes goes to vote but most often votes absentee. He shouldn't even be able to vote there much less be eligible to be in Congress.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05193/536563.stm

*edited to add link and make correction

[DWolper]

14. You still don't get it

I'm talking about a different kind of honesty. I'm talking about being honest with their views, with no concern for repercussions. I don't have to agree with someone to appreciate that they stick to their guns.

[sunnystarr]

16. Oh I get it ... you mean like George Bush ... don't make me laugh. (nt)

[PA Democrat]

17. "intellectually honest"? Hardly.

Santorum criticized his opponent Doug Walgren in 1990 claiming that Walgren did not reside in PA. Now where does Rick Santorum reside? HINT: Not in PA!

Santorum has been a vocal supporter of tort reform and supports a $250,000 cap on lawsuits. When his wife was injured by a chiropractor, the Santorums sued for $500,000.

Santorum claims to care about children and families, but would not support increased funding for childcare for working single mothers who were cut from welfare. Santorum stated that, "Making people struggle a little bit is not necessarily the worst thing."

Santorum said he supported Bush's proposed cuts to Amtrak funding, and then when confronted on the issue of Amtrak funding said he would fight Bush for more funding.

More of Santorum's "honesty" at:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/4/133432/2493

http://www.fromtheroots.org/section/pa/2

[Lecky]

18. I have no doubt he is sincere about his beliefs

too bad his beliefs and reality are two different things. The man doesn't have a clue and it's not up to him or our government to set the status quo on how families should work.

There's a difference in discussing family values and prescribing gender roles. Most people love their families and are trying to make it the best way they can.

Santorum is an arrogant tool that is sincere in his beliefs.

[Carla in Ca]

19. Read this regarding his honesty

Santorum Rapped Across The Knuckles
<http://www.dailykos.com/>


As a teacher for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for 14 years, one important lesson I learned was that no matter what I said to the child, whatever the parents said superseded my message. What parents say and how they live sends a message stronger than any teacher's voice no matter what the issue.

Sen. Rick Santorum and his wife have taught their children a powerful lesson on civic responsibility by refusing to pay any tuition money to the Penn Hills School District for their children who attended the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School ("Penn Hills Loses Bid to Charge Santorum," July 12). Released from that payment on a technicality shows that even an upstanding, moral gentleman like Sen. Santorum teaches his children the following lessons:


Take advantage of the system whenever you can.


The little guy pays while the rich and powerful guy gets away with it.


As a Catholic, you have no obligation to pay your share to the common good in spite of Catholic social doctrine.


Finally, I am shocked that our religious leaders who see Sen. Santorum as some sort of faith-and-morals hero have not spoken up on this issue at all.

SISTER LIGUORI ROSSNER
Sisters for Christian Community
Bloomfield