Flashback: World Columnist on Romney's Real Problem

Now that Mitt Romney will be the Republican candidate for president, it's instructive to look back at Romney, his ideas and his background.

In today's installment, we recall this telling passage from columnist Ruben Navarrette, published January 15 in the Tulsa World:

Here's the problem with Mitt Romney, and why…his electability is in doubt. It's not his religion, his so-called moderate views on many issues, or even his reputation for fibbing and flip-flopping. 

Romney's real shortcoming is that he can't relate to everyday Americans. He doesn't understand their concerns or vulnerabilities or worries because the lives they're living bear no resemblance to his own. It's one thing to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth, and it's another to have been saddled with a 20-piece set of sterling flatware.

Presidential Dignity: Colbert on the (Fake) Outrage of the Right

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Obama's Actual Words (Not What You Hear on Fox News and Talk Radio)

Amazing Fox Flip-Flop: Conservatives Change Their Tune on Mitt Romney

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Dewey Speaks: Mayor Bartlett Talks to NPR about Tulsa's Troubled Racial History

The Good Friday murders of three African Americans put Tulsa in the national headlines recently, but not in a good way.

Not only were the shootings horrific in their own right, but they also reminded people of Tulsa's troubled racial history, especially the infamous 1921 race riot that destroyed the city's Greenwood District, home to many blacks.

The folks at NPR's Morning Edition followed up on all of this in an interview this morning with Mayor Dewy Bartlett. It's worth a listen.

Mayor Bartlett works hard to explain how the city has changed over the decades. The interview also includes commentary by Scott Ellsworth, who has written a history of the race riot, and even mentions our friend Michael Mason, editor of This Land.

To listen to the interview, click here.

The Wit and Wisdom of Rocker (& Gun Nut) Ted Nugent

The gun zealots were out in full force last week when the National Rifle Association held its national convention in St. Louis.

No. 1 crazy man: Ted Nugent, washed-up rock god and full-bore gunslinger.

Never one for thoughtfulness or carefully reasoned opinion, Nugent ranted and raged at the NRA meeting, even predicting the Obama administrations Nazi-inspired prison camps for good, honest gun-totin' patriots like himself.

Some samples: "We've got four Supreme Court justices who don't believe in the constitution."

And this: "If Barack Obama becomes the President in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year."

Wow!

It's complete fantasy, as are a lot of Obama-bashing from the right. But it's still dangerously irresponsible and, well, a demented lie. 

The details are here.

Rick Santorum Joke of the Week

Comedian Jimmy Fallon on former Sen. Rick Santorum, winner of last month's Oklahoma Republican primary:

After dropping out of the GOP race, Rick Santorum emailed his supporters to ask for help paying off his campaign debt. So if you believe in his message of responsible spending and no handouts, just give him a handout to cover all his irresponsible spending.

Uh-oh: Daily Show Correspondent Takes on Oklahoma's 'Personhood' Debate

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Oklahoma Still High in Teen Births

We're number five! We're number five!

Okay, it's not a good thing. But the latest government figures show that Oklahoma is number five in teen births.

As we like to say around here, thank God for Mississippi, which topped the list. (Thank God too for the other states ahead of us: New Mexico, Arkansas and our friends in Texas.)

On the other hand, the teen birthrate nationally is falling. The study shows that the teen birthrate has reached the lowest level since record-keeping began in 1940.

Why the decline? In the AP report published in the Tulsa World, experts cite the economy. 

That makes sense. But we also suspect the wider availability and use of contraception by teens plays a major role in the declining birthrate. 

Of course, the availability and use of contraception has been targeted by zealots like Rick Santorum. No wonder his candidacy has flopped—even teenagers know better.

Over and Done: Former Sen. Rick Santorum, Oklahoma's GOP Choice, Is Out

Just a few weeks ago, Oklahoma Republicans went big for former Sen. Rick Santorum as the GOP nominee for president. Today, Santorum dropped out.

Yes, Sooner fans, Saint Rick of Pennsylvania is history. He's not going to be the Republican nominee for president in 2012.

This means that Oklahoma conservatives will have to vote for—yes!—Mitt Romney, the godfather of Obamacare and a state supporter of the individual mandate.

Woo-hoo! Republicans have a real Massachusetts liberal on the GOP ticket.

Can't wait to hear this East Coast  multimillionaire relate to all us working stiffs out here in Middle America.

UPDATE: Tulsa's Santorum supporters professed to be shocked that their man has dropped out. The story here.  Apparently, they were laboring under the illusion that Rick could actually win.

Wrong Again! Santorum's War on (Fake) University Anti-Americanism

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Newt Gingrich Rolls to an Overwhelming (Ha!) Fourth Place Finish in Wisconsin

Wisconsin GOP primary voters have spoken and our man Newt Gingrich—a Legend in His Own Mind!—rolled to a fantastic fourth place finish. Whoo!

Yes, Cowboy fans, Newt was fourth out of four in tonight's Badger state race with a whopping 6.1 percent of the Republican vote. Even the clueless Rep. Ron Paul got more votes than the Newtster.

How the mighty have fallen. After his South Carolina victory, Gingrich was brimming with confidence. (Okay, Gingrich is always brimming with confidence.) He assured the Republican base of his intellectual superiority and eventual victory at the Tampa convention.

Alas, it is not to be. Gingrich has been in political free fall for weeks, just about the time he promised a new U.S. base on the moon.

Let's face it, Mitt Romney—practically a GOP liberal!—will be the Republican nominee. Rick Santorum will keep pretending that he can get the nomination, but he can't.

As for Gingrich, there's not a snowball's chance in hell that he'll get the Republican nomination. Say goodbye, Newt. 

Crystal Ball Time: Romney Wins Wisconsin; Santorum Fades, Newt a Distant Third

AltTulsa has no special insight into Republican politics in Wisconsin, but we're predicting a big Mitt Romeny win in that state's primary tomorrow.

How big? We can't say, but we think Rick ("Holier than Thou") Santorum is over and done, a victim of his Far Right extremism.

Santorum won the conservative GOP voters in Oklahoma a few weeks back, as well as victories in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. But Santorum can't win like that outside the South, which is why we feel confident in predicting a big Romney win tomorrow.

As for our favorite egomaniac, Newt Gingrich, it's hopeless. The guy has no chance to win the nomination.

Newt, of course, is soldiering on. He claimed today that Romney does not—repeat, does not!—have the nomination locked up and that he, Newt Gingrich, the Greatest Mind of His Generation, still has a chance.

And if you believe that, we've got this great bridge in Brooklyn that we'd like to sell you. Cheap!