Some of the topics we're loaded with today: Romney Beat Santorum by 8 Votes || Perry Tweets: 'Here We Come, South Carolina' || Bachmann Drops Out of Presidential Race || Ron Paul Happy with the Bronze

NY Times Raises Prices ... Big-Time Sports Has Lost Mystique ... How El Rushbo Gooses Prius Drivers ... Colonel Mark Hasara on Fuel Burn

Jimmy Carter -- uncharacteristically quiet these past three years -- has piped up with a little advice for Obama. “If your main goal is to get re-elected,” Carter told AP, you should “avoid a controversial subject as much as you can in the first term.”

RUSH: Back on December 14th, essentially I, your host, El Rushbo, predicted what everybody in the media was declaring: a Newt-Mitt race.  I said, "Nope, it's not gonna shape up that way.  There's still way too much that can happen."  Now, what has happened is Santorum, for all practical purposes, given expectations, was the winner last night.

RUSH: Did you happen to see any of the videotape of Obama doing his dog-and-pony show? I'm telling you, I don't know how this happened. Folks, they added 25 years to his appearance.  He looked like the character Max Headroom out there.  Barack Obama looked like a space alien.  He looked like he was 75 years old... The idea that Obama was the big winner last night is a crock.

RUSH: If he can make the case and takes it to Romney, it'll be the first time that's been done. And there's Santorum there to pick up the pieces.

RUSH: The fact that the media and the Democrats are trying to associate Santorum with "big government" is an indication of something very important. They know that it can kill a conservative's chances, and that it resonates. People do not want big government.

RUSH: In her press conference where she announced she was pulling out, she said this might be the last election to turn around before we go down the road to socialism, and you could hear the journalists in the room practically gasp.

RUSH: My contention is they think Romney would be the easiest of the likely-to-win Republican candidates.  I know the Republican political professionals have let it be known that I don't know what I'm talking about -- think I'm crazy.

RUSH: We're getting into an area of the program where I'm genuinely uncomfortable, and that is where I am the subject.

RUSH: What am I missing?  Obviously somebody thinks this is well-timed.

RUSH: Oh! It's my old buddy Kate from Fairfield, California, where they make Jelly Belly jelly beans. I remember talking to Kate, I don't know how many times, when I was in Sacramento back in the eighties.

RUSH: It was so powerful, and he never uses a prompter.

CALLER: I'm a Tea Party conservative, and I agree with you about the distaste over McCain endorsing Romney.

RUSH: "Measured in dollars, the United States is on pace this year to ship more gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel than any other single export, according to US Census data going back to 1990. It will also be the first year in more than 60 years that America has been a net exporter of these fuels." First time in more than 60 years, net exporter of gasoline.