Is Newt Gingrich "Electable"?

[MARIS61]

Having kids help out around their respective schools - doing some various janitorial duties as to help them gain some pride and appreciation,

Nothing builds pride and appreciation like scrubbing toilets and cleaning up puke.

 

[MARIS61]

http://news.yahoo.com/gingrich-calls-private-retirement-accounts-140950969.html

Proof positive he is the 1%'s puppet of doom.

 

[ABM]

Nothing builds pride and appreciation like scrubbing toilets and cleaning up puke.

Nah, those jobs belong to unionized janitors. You know, skilled labor.

 

[MARIS61]

Nah, those jobs belong to unionized janitors. You know, skilled labor.

Correct.

You might be surprised how much skill and knowledge is necessary to provide quality building maintenance services.

 

[ABM]

Correct.

You might be surprised how much skill and knowledge is necessary to provide quality building maintenance services.

Cool, and we can let some kids fill in some of the gaps.

See, now WE can actually see some progress!

If you and I can, then certainly there's hope for Washington.

 

[STOMP]

I fully admit I haven't followed the Rise of Newt here, but wasn't he "dead" after the straw polls? Something like he'd stopped campaigning, his staff quit, he was out of money, getting 1% of the polls, etc? What happened?

Romney is still Mormon so the base can't embrace him plus he's flip flopped on virtually every issue during his public life. Perry spectacularly face planted several times with his stupidity. Bachman laughably ditto. Herman Cain has trumped both of them... how can a serious Presidential candidate be worried about China getting the bomb or that the Taliban is in charge in Libya?

Despite being horribly flawed personally, Newt is enjoying a moment in the sun because everyone else has wilted. His skeletons are literally busting out of the closet, yet he's a likely VP to Mitt. Did you know Mr Morality married his HS Math teacher just after graduating and then later (when about to divorce her) said "She isn't young enough or pretty enough to be the President's wife."

Mitt and Newt the oddest couple ever. The only things they seem to have in common is a quest for power, & frankly, a willingness to take any position that benefits them at the moment.

STOMP

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm usually amused by the whole "quest for power." It seems to me that the people entrenched in it don't normally have either a plan or the capability to utilize it for anything once they get it. I've seen it in military, politics, civilian workplace, academia and volunteer organizations.

I also seem to be the type that usually cleans up after the messes in those organizations.

 

[speeds]

"Anybody but Mitt" continues going strong... delaying the inevitable...

 

[PapaG]

I don't know if Newt is electable, but he's easily the smartest candidate in the GOP field, and he's smarter than the president, as well.

The problem for him is that his intellect comes out as arrogance at times, and he lacks the coolness factor and the goofy grin that Obama has that allowed people to get past Obama's own obvious arrogance.

In terms of ideas, good and/or bad, Newt at least is offering up new perspectives, as opposed to the Obama meme of "Bush's/GOP's fault".

 

[ABM]

I don't know if Newt is electable, but he's easily the smartest candidate in the GOP field, and he's smarter than the president, as well.

The problem for him is that his intellect comes out as arrogance at times, and he lacks the coolness factor and the goofy grin that Obama has that allowed people to get past Obama's own obvious arrogance.

In terms of ideas, good and/or bad, Newt at least is offering up new perspectives, as opposed to the Obama meme of "Bush's/GOP's fault".

I think you pretty much nailed it.

 

[Denny Crane]

I do think Newt is brilliant, but with all the flaws STOMP wrote about. One thing I like about him is he's a "tweener" republican; he's not a religious social conservative like many in the party today, and he's not a Reagan style conservative tho he's from the same era.

He's clearly a great policy wonk, tho he's talked in the past of abolishing the dept. of education.

He is one of the best republican communicators, but I don't see him inspiring people like he once could - 1994 republican revolution.

Frankly, I see him as a republican version of Obama. We have no clue how he'd run an executive branch, since he's never done it. There's no track record to go by. And most importantly to me, he has no ready-to-go staff to run the executive branch. Who'd be his chief of staff, for example? That's a really important post.

 

[Further]

The reason why I hate the idea of Gingrich as pres is that I view him as an extremely partisan guy. Someone who is only interested in winning his point and does not have the overall health of the American society in mind. And this is what makes all the littler things like cheating on two wives (one while she had cancer), or receiving the 1.6mil. It shows that he has no personal morals, just public morals.

here is a quote from him about why he cheated on his first wife

"She isn't young enough or pretty enough to be the President's wife." - Newt, on his first wife.

Other notable areas that may come up during his run for president. I did not know much, so I started googeling and these are just some of the issues I found.

he was a Dead-Beat Dad until taken to court to pay.

Is he a hypocrite because he is so bullish on the military yet Gingrich avoided the Vietnam War through a combination of student and family deferments.

Newt bounced 22 Checks as congressmen in the early 90's.

Newt in his poltical career was the king of using tax-payer subsidized donations for his personal and political purposes. He stooped so low as to hijack not one but two charities for poor inner city kids and use their donations for his personal goals. (it's all related to GOPAC if you want read more.)





Here are some of the sources

"Newt Plays House With New Squeeze," by Timothy Burger and Owen Moritz, NY Daily News, August 12, 1999

"Newt's Fooling Around With His Girl On the Hill," by Andy Soltis, New York Post, August 12, 1999

"The Big One That Got Away," by David Corn, Salon Website, August 12, 1998

adulterous choir practice: "Personals", by Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, August 17, 1999 pE12

"Gingrich Won't Answer Woman's Adultery Story," Missoula (Montana) Missoulian, August 16, 1995page 1

"Tales About Gingrich make field level", Idaho Spokesman Review, August 16, 1995 pB6

"Gingrich Aided Export Firm That Employed His Wife", NY Times News Service, San Francisco Chronicle, February 7, 1995 pA7

"Gingrich, Critic of 'Business as Usual,' Helps Out Special Interests Like 'Any Member of Congress'", Phil Kuntz, Wall Street Journal, April 3, 1995 pA16

"Gingrich's political education", Jeff Gerth and Stephen Labaton (NY Times News Service), San Francisco Examiner, February 12, 1995 pA6

"IRS clears Gingrich donation that led to his House censure", Capitol Hill Blue Website, February 4, 1999

Ethics Committee Drops Last of 84 Charges Against Gingrich ,By Curt Anderson (Associated Press), Washington Post, October 11, 1998, Page A13

"Use of Tax-Exempt Groups Integral to Political Strategy", by Charles R. Babcock, Washington Post, January 7, 1997, Page A01

"Jump-Start: How Speaker Gingrich Grabbed Power and Attention So Quickly", Wall Street Journal, January 19, 1995 pA1

"The Inner Quest of Newt Gingrich", Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, September 1995 p147 "Gingrich, Murdoch reveal lobbyist's role at meeting", Katharine Seelye (NY Times News Service), San Francisco Examiner, pA1 "Murdoch, Gingrich Admit They Talked", San Francisco Chronicle, January 13, 1995

"The Mysterious Mrs. Newt", Martin Fletcher (London Times News Service), SF Examiner, January 15, 1995 pA4 "Newt's Near Misses", Ron Curran, The Bay Guardian, January 11, 1995 p10

"Newt, Inc.", Dennis Bernstein, Bay Guardian, February 1, 1995 p19

 

[Denny Crane]

According to MSNBC this morning, Newt really stepped in it with his views toward immigration. I actually liked what he said. You morally can't expel someone from the country who's been here 25 years and been a good person.

They also said Bachmann had an excellent debate. Of all people.

 

[Shooter]

He's a liar, a hypocrite, an adulterer, used his office to attain a lobbying position in which he contributed to the housing bubble, and he's 68 years old but has no executive experience at all.

I guess it depends on just how stupid or desperate Republican voters are this time around.

Hey, the Dems were stupid enough to elect Obama--I'm sure the country can elect Gingrich!!

 

[MARIS61]

According to MSNBC this morning, Newt really stepped in it with his views toward immigration. I actually liked what he said. You morally can't expel someone from the country who's been here 25 years and been a good person.

It's a moot point, since that definition would only apply to legal immigrants.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I keep hearing Republican pundits say that "he's the smartest person in the room." Presumably they're talking about during one of the debates (so long as Huntsman doesn't show up). Paul Krugman had a good line about him: he's the stupid person's idea of a smart person.

 

[STOMP]

STOMP

 

[jlprk]

His third wife has him hypnotized.

 

[speeds]

Newt's huge Tiffany's line isn't so bad when you see her face. Anything to distract and keep from looking directly into her OH MY GOD YES I WILL KILL FOR YOU MASTER

 

[jlprk]

Didn't all his previous wives die mysteriously after he walked into their hospital rooms with her and dumped them?

 

[maxiep]

Nothing builds pride and appreciation like scrubbing toilets and cleaning up puke.

All legitimate work has dignity.

 

[maxiep]

I keep hearing Republican pundits say that "he's the smartest person in the room." Presumably they're talking about during one of the debates (so long as Huntsman doesn't show up). Paul Krugman had a good line about him: he's the stupid person's idea of a smart person.

Romney runs circles around Newt Gingrich intellectually. I know people who worked with him at Bain Capital (a company of really smart people), and they remain in awe of his ability to cut to the core of an issue. Investment and acquisition requires the ability to ask the right questions; Romney has that ability.

 

[barfo]

Romney runs circles around Newt Gingrich intellectually. I know people who worked with him at Bain Capital (a company of really smart people), and they remain in awe of his ability to cut to the core of an issue. Investment and acquisition requires the ability to ask the right questions; Romney has that ability.

I agree, I think people are mistaking knowledge (which Gingrich does have) for intelligence (which Gingrich also has, but not in particularly vast quantities). What Gingrich has none of is wisdom.

barfo

 

[ABM]

Romney runs circles around Newt Gingrich intellectually. I know people who worked with him at Bain Capital (a company of really smart people), and they remain in awe of his ability to cut to the core of an issue. Investment and acquisition requires the ability to ask the right questions; Romney has that ability.

Interesting, maxie.

I'm ready for the debates to be whittled down to no more than, say, three potential candidates. At this point, this band of brothers and one sister game show is a little too watered down for my liking.

 

[ABM]

Romney runs circles around Newt Gingrich intellectually. I know people who worked with him at Bain Capital (a company of really smart people), and they remain in awe of his ability to cut to the core of an issue. Investment and acquisition requires the ability to ask the right questions; Romney has that ability.

Interesting, maxie.

I'm ready for the debates to be whittled down to no more than, say, three potential candidates. At this point, this band of brothers and one sister game show is a little too watered down for my liking.

 

[HailBlazers]

I agree whole heartily with that! ^

Let's get Romney, Paul, Gingrich, debating stat!

 

[ABM]

I agree whole heartily with that! ^

Let's get Romney, Paul, Gingrich, debating stat!

Actually, that very well might be a rather contrasting (therefore, enlightening/revealing) group to throw into the proverbial ring.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Actually, that very well might be a rather contrasting (therefore, enlightening/revealing) group to throw into the proverbial ring.

If you want contrasting (therefore, enlightening/revealing/entertaining) you have to go with Paul, Gingrich & Kane.

 

[ABM]

If you want contrasting (therefore, enlightening/revealing/entertaining) you have to go with Paul, Gingrich & Kane.

By virtue of poll standings, though, you'd necessarily have to include Romney. Top four wouldn't be all bad, I suppose.

 

[ABM]

This appears to be a pretty big deal...

http://news.yahoo.com/gingrich-wins-nh-backing-romney-plugs-along-195757282.html

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich landed the endorsement of New Hampshire's largest newspaper on Sunday while rival Mitt Romney earned a dismissive wave, potentially resetting the race in the state with the first-in-the-nation primary.

For Gingrich, the former House speaker, the backing builds on his recent rise in the polls and quick work to build a campaign after a disastrous start in the summer. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has a vacation home in the state and has been called a "nearly native son of New Hampshire," absorbed the blow heading into the Jan. 10 vote that's vital to his campaign strategy.

"We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing," The New Hampshire Union Leader said in its front-page editorial, which was as much a promotion of Gingrich as a discreet rebuke of Romney.

"We don't back candidates based on popularity polls or big-shot backers. We look for conservatives of courage and conviction who are independent-minded, grounded in their core beliefs about this nation and its people, and best equipped for the job," the endorsement said.

The Union Leader's editorial telegraphed conservatives' concerns about Romney's shifts on crucial issues of abortion and gay rights were unlikely to fade. Those worries have led Romney to keep Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses — where conservatives hold great sway — at arm's length.

At the same time, the endorsement boosts Gingrich's conservative credentials. He spent the week defending his immigration policies against accusations that they a form of amnesty. On Monday, Gingrich takes a campaign swing through South Carolina, the South's first primary state.

Even Democrats on Sunday were noting Gingrich's rise.

"He's clearly a smart guy," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York. "And look, I give him some credit for not just blowing with the winds on an issue like immigration. That showed some real courage.".................