Reservations Regarding Newt

Newt Gingrich is the flavor of the month in the GOP presidential race.

He presents an interesting profile.  He is obviously very bright, and is filled to the brim with mostly good policy ideas.  He speaks well in debate, and consistently delivers lines that delight conservatives.  Some look back fondly on what he did during the 1990's.

He also has his down sides. 

The left in concert found him very easy to villainize and vilify during the 1990's.  Some of us remember how they transformed the name "Gingrich" to "grinch" in order to lampoon him.  We also remember his failed Medicare battle with Clinton.  He took a soaring victory and converted it into defeat, in part because of his personal behavior.  His frank speech can be used against him.

Some will presume genuine repentance with respect to matters in his personal life.  But it is hard to know.

Running for president, and leading as president, depend in part on likability.  Conservatives tend to like Newt; but the question is how independents and female voters will react to him in the long run.  I understand he is polling well among independents right now.

Newt also is among those who believe that the computerization and interconnectivity of medical records is the cure for our health care system.  Some of us doubt this wisdom for various reasons.  While it is not a major issue in the larger scheme of things, it nonetheless makes me wonder.

As I mentioned several days ago, it will be very interesting to see how Iowa chooses.      

Comments

[Harold Milner]

The Newt's a real humdinger. Did you know it was you Baptists who came to The Newt's first wife and their kid's financial rescue when The Newt let his first of three wives know of divorce proceedings when she was near death's door fighting uterine cancer and then proceeded to renege on child and alimony support?

Certainly the Republicans can do better. Or is their knew standard: No abortions. No same sex marriages. However three wives, two (known) mistresses, and child abandonment is ok.

As I stated over at the Spagster's blog, the party of the Great Communicator can do better than The Newt when it comes to occupying the Big House.

[Account Deleted]

And then there are the gun control issues.
http://gunowners.org/gingrich-mixed-record.htm
And the stand with Pelosi that Government needs to fix global warming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6n_-wB154

[Mick]

As I have said elsewhere as well... too many folks dont really care for Newt for many and varied reasons. "likability" certainly is one.

But if not Newt or Mitt (what is with the names!?) then who?

[Account Deleted]

A.B.O.!

[bubba]

"A.B.O.!"

I think most conservatives would favor Newt over Romney.

Additionally, it appears that reconstituted '12 Democrat presidential election strategy will end up giving Newt an advantage Romney could never hope to gain among blue collar working class whites, and a number of other demographic groups.

[Ellis Pigmore]

"As I stated over at the Spagster's blog, the party of the Great Communicator can do better than The Newt when it comes to occupying the Big House."

I got news for ya Harold, people could care less about how many times a candidate has been married compared to electing another clueless radical left wing community organizer. But you can keep hoping.

[Harold Milner]

Time will tell EP, time will tell. Perhaps The Newt is just having his day in the sun as did Cain. Perry jumped in, burned out. Cain lead for a while, then flamed out over some old flame issues.

Gotta believe the Dems are holding off on The Newt stuff hoping he'll get the nod then come October 2012, those sequestered babes will come forth with the details.

Gotta tell ya EP, if Obama dumps Biden for Hillary, game over.

[Techster64]

Am I to belive that Obama adding Hiliiary Clinton to his ticket in 2012 would end the game? How absurd. Hilliary has more baggage than Newt. Why do you think that Hilliary was dumped in 2008 by the Dems for a packaged unknown? Obama was made the Dem candidate because he was a blank slate, and with the help of the media, his past was totally hidden from view? Face it, we still do not know much about Barack Obama and his life. What did he do and who did he associate with in; Occidental, Columbia, Harvard, Chicago, et. al.? How do we know, Harold, that Obama doesn't have some seqeuestered babes of his own? With the lack of vetting, we do not know. Most of what we know about him is what we learned from his two books, and what he said about his past, he couldn't get a government security clearance.

Sure, Newt has issues. Has there ever been a president that has not? JFK has always been revered, but he had more issues than Bill Clinton, much less Newt.

Perfect is the enemy of good. I'll take an Republican that can rid this country of Barack Obama and Hilliary Clinton. And, I think the person with the best chance is Newt.

[Billy Jones]

How quickly we forget. From Wikipedia:

"On January 21, 1997, the House of Representatives voted to discipline him for ethical wrongdoing. He was accused of using tax-deductible charitable donations to fund a non-charitable college course that he taught, and of giving false information about this to the House Ethics Committee. In a 395-28 vote, the House ordered Gingrich to pay an unprecedented $300,000 penalty as part of a settlement to avoid a full hearing."

At the time he was Speaker of the House, which means it was the Republican Party that was in control of the House. Had there been a full hearing the punishment would have been far greater. Known scoundrels and thieves running for president? What has the world come to?

[Billy Jones]

"The Bush years cannot be repudiated, but the memory of them can be discarded to make way for a new and more radical ideology, assembled from bits of the old GOP platform that were once sublimated by the party elites but now roam the land freely: ultralibertarianism, crank monetary theories, populist fury, and paranoid visions of a Democratic Party controlled by ACORN and the New Black Panthers. For the past three years, the media have praised the enthusiasm and energy the tea party has brought to the GOP. Yet it’s telling that that movement has failed time and again to produce even a remotely credible candidate for president. Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich: The list of tea-party candidates reads like the early history of the U.S. space program, a series of humiliating fizzles and explosions that never achieved liftoff. A political movement that never took governing seriously was exploited by a succession of political entrepreneurs uninterested in governing—but all too interested in merchandising. Much as viewers tune in to American Idol to laugh at the inept, borderline dysfunctional early auditions, these tea-party champions provide a ghoulish type of news entertainment each time they reveal that they know nothing about public affairs and have never attempted to learn. But Cain’s gaffe on Libya or Perry’s brain freeze on the Department of Energy are not only indicators of bad leadership. They are indicators of a crisis of followership. The tea party never demanded knowledge or concern for governance, and so of course it never got them. " -David Frum http://nymag.com/print/?/news/politics/conservatives-david-frum-2011-11/

[cheripickr]

Yeah, devastating:

Wiki:
"During his term as Speaker, eighty-four ethics charges were filed against him; eighty-three of them were dropped.[62] The remaining charge concerned a 20-hour college course called "Renewing American Civilization" that Gingrich had taught through a tax-deductible foundation, Kennesaw State College Foundation. Allegations of tax improprieties led to two counts "of failure to seek legal advice" and one count of "providing the committee with information which he knew or should have known was inaccurate" concerning the use of a tax exempt college course for political purposes.

On January 21, 1997, the House voted 395 to 28 to reprimand Gingrich, including a $300,000 "cost assessment" to recoup money spent on the investigation.[65][66]
The full committee panel did not agree whether tax law had been violated.[67] In 1999, the IRS cleared the organizations connected with the courses.[68]"

The guy's a regular Ted Bundy.

[cheripickr]

Harold, do you know whether, after dumping her while she was at death's door from her cancer 30 years ago, was that scumbag Gingrich even man enough to attend Jackie Battley Gingrich's funeral?

[Techster64]

Billy,

Is Cain's gaffe worse than a sitting president talking about an attack on the "English Embassy"? At least, Herman Cain has not had the advantage of being briefed on national security for the past three years. You can diminish the Republican candidates all you wish, but I bet they all know that it's the British Embassy, and how to properly pronounce "corpsman", when awarding a military medal.

[Techster64]

And, is not knowing it is not the English Embassy a sign of bad leadership from a sitting president of three years?

[cheripickr]

..or 57 states instead of 50? No , I don't think it's all important. But it is when you're grasping at straws and it's all you've got. Or you can make stuff up, like Harold.

[Harold Milner]

"...was that scumbag Gingrich even man enough to attend Jackie Battley Gingrich's funeral?" by cheripicker. I'm certain the Baptists woulda shamed him into attending.

[bubba]

"I'm certain the Baptists woulda shamed him into attending.

....and the reason you know that to be true is what, 'Turf?

[cheripickr]

Well, Bubba, considering she's still alive,
http://www.creators.com/conservative/jackie-gingrich-cushman/setting-the-record-straight.html,

never had cancer in the first place, and that Harold knows it, and when his lie is exposed at one blog,

http://spagreport.typepad.com/the-spag-report/2011/11/dirt-on-newt.html?cid=6a00e008da1f2288340154379294dc970c#comment-6a00e008da1f2288340154379294dc970c

like the proverbial snake oil salesman, he simply packs up his tent and takes his show to another, I wouldn't expect any better quality answer to that question than to the first one.

[Spag]

"Gotta tell ya EP, if Obama dumps Biden for Hillary, game over."

Fantasy land.

Hillary LOST to Obama and is arguably even more polarizing. She's polling better than him because she has demonstrated more competence, but the bar isn't very high, is it? Hillary isn't that stupid. She doesn't want to go out there and try to defend his abysmal record. She's just waiting for another shot in 2016.

[Billy Jones]

Techster64,
I have no use for Obama so your effort is lost.

[Reggie Greene]

Joe, your analysis of Mr. Gingrich reflects some of the complexity associated with our method / system of electing public officials in a democratic society. All sorts of factors come into play, and for each voter they are different and have different degrees of importance.

If I were on the board of trustees or directors of a large, international conglomerate in the private sector, a much smaller number of factors would be considered. Arguably, the goal of a private sector manager is to achieve one primary goal - profitability. Arguably, a public sector manager has to balance a multiplicity of competing considerations which vary in importance from time to time. Some would say that a public sector leader has to have more skills, particularity people skills, which lend them to being more like used car salespeople instead visionary, leaders of free people.

Maybe we need to consider a different way of electing our public officials. Many seem to be dissatisfied with what we have now. Let's engage in a discussion about how to do it more efficiently, more effectively, and a less cost than we currently do now. We could, after all, make some systemic changes to this whole mess.

Would be better off with a public sector trained and experienced leader, a private sector trained and experienced leader, or a combination of both?

To some extent, in the private sector, lots of things (including dirty laundry) which get aired in the public debate and are the subject of media and comic attention, are of far less significance than in the public sector. Some argue that we discourage our best potential leaders from ever participating in the process.

I recently heard a quote which made me pause for a while. I tried looking it up for this comment, but failed to locate it. It may have been a Samuel Johnson quote. It suggested that an honest man who cares about other people has no desire to lead them.

[Reggie Greene]

Some how, while trying to edit my comment, I managed to get my paragraphs out of order. Hopefully the discussion is not too confusing. I apologize.

[Joe Guarino]

Reggie, it is a bit distressing to me that, in an optimal cycle for Republicans to win the presidency, we are not really seeing great candidacies emerge from the pack-- at least as of yet. Yes, Romney and Gingrich have strengths, but... Otherwise, thanks for your comments. Great quote at the tail end.

At this point, I'm quietly pulling for Rick Santorum in Iowa. But he has definitely been a long shot all along. I had been hoping that Rick Perry would fill the bill, until his debate performances took him down; but I suppose it is possible that he still could have a chance to prevail there also.

[Techster64]

Joe,

We do have many good young Republicans in the pipeline; Ryan, Rubio, Christie, but they opted to sit this trip. We've got to win this one with the talent that we have. Simply, we must quit wishing for Ronald Reagan. He's not available, and this game is too important to lose. We've got to rally around whichever candidate we get. If we have Obama four more years, this country won't be governable after that. We'll be in the same financial shape as Europe, and no one will bail us out.

[Joe Guarino]

Oh, I know it's important to beat Obama, and I agree. There really is going to be nowhere else to go if someone like Romney or Gingrich were to get the nomination.

I don't think we need another Reagan. But because this is a critical election in our history, it is important to have a genuinely conservative, transformational leader who can win and keep public support. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to get all the heavy lifting done that will be needed.

[Billy Jones]

Techster64 "If we have Obama four more years, this country won't be governable after that. We'll be in the same financial shape as Europe, and no one will bail us out."

And you really believe the man in the White house is going to change things for the better? Sweet, but politically naive. So very naive. The problem is Wall Street's influence over Washington. Unless American's figure out a way to end the bribery the problems will only grow worse.

Here's a prediction for you: By 2016, no matter who gets elected to the White house in 2012, the entire country will tank and a very large chunk of Tea Partyers will become disillusioned and silently support Occupy. Oh wait, it's already happening as I currently funnel support from unnamed Guilford County conservatives to Occupy Greensboro.

[Ellis Pigmore]

"Here's a prediction for you: By 2016, no matter who gets elected to the White house in 2012, the entire country will tank and a very large chunk of Tea Partyers will become disillusioned and silently support Occupy. Oh wait, it's already happening as I currently funnel support from unnamed Guilford County conservatives to Occupy Greensboro."-Billy Jones

And all your stockings will be filled with chocolate mountains and oompa loompas. Geez Billy you really should back down on your meds, you are starting to sound alot like the Radical Left Wing Nutjobs we are trying to eradicate in 2012.

[Ellis Pigmore]

More than anything our country desperately needs a leader who understands what got us in this condition and has the backbone to annhilate his adversaries who want to continue down this path. Newt Gingrich is the best option, Romney has no backbone.

[cheripickr]

But Ellis, we don't care about backbone, experience or competence. The man's got 20 year old baggage!!

[Billy Jones]

You mean this Newt? http://youtu.be/CWKTOCP45zY

[Mick]

Cheri, what was your take on Clinton not being able to keep his zipper zipped?

Ellis, same question?

[cheripickr]

pretty unbecoming of a sitting president living in the white house with his wife down the hall, I thought. The lying on national TV, then forced retraction and the whole blue dress thing didn't do much for the stature of the office either. You?

[Joe Guarino]

Some other reservations about Newt:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/284248/who-s-most-conservative-them-all-mona-charen

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/284472/newt-gingrich-said-iwhati

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/284378/back-bush-s-big-government-conservatism-michael-tanner

[Billy Jones]

Ellis Pigmore "...you are starting to sound alot like the Radical Left Wing Nutjobs we are trying to eradicate in 2012."

Eradicate is a very strong word, Pigmore. It's as if you're threatening people. Are you threatening people with eradication? Is this what the wingnuts really want for America, eradication of everyone who doesn't think like they do? Are you really threatening people are are you simply another blowhard? Which is it?

"transitive verb
1 : to pull up by the roots
2 : to do away with as completely as if by pulling up by the roots" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eradicate

Well just in case you're really wanting to eradicate people I thought I should let you know, I am a conservative's worst nightmare-- an armed liberal. A very armed liberal.

And you are yet another anonymous coward afraid to use his or her real name.

Finally, if Joe decides to delete my comment, remember, because of his tying comments to Facebook it will forever be recorded there with a link back to this post.

[cheripickr]

great. Now we all need bulletproof vests and a foxhole just to blog. Merry Christmas.

[Mick]

Cheri, I agree. Which is why I dont quite get your long time support of Newt. It's OK as long as your not POTUS?

[Mick]

He's a changed man? It will never happen again?

My view of each man's ethics is the same. You?

[cheripickr]

It's not OK, but it's done. Harold's lie about the cancer thing was 30 years ago. Beating a 30 year old lie into the ground is not an argument against a presidential candidate. We have a finite number of viable candidates for president. I am going to look at the whole picture and vote for the candidate I think is most qualified to lead the country. I'm kind of odd that way. If Newt can't keep his 69 year old talliwhacker behind the zipper in the oval office I will think no more highly of it than I did with Willy, probably even less so--(the imagery---never mind.) Who are you supporting, Mick?

[Mick]

Actually, I guess we just draw the line in a different place, Because, if Newt is the nominee then I will vote for him in the general election. Zipper issuses, professional politician issues and all.

Sad for me in that regard but we have a responsability to vote for the best available candidate. At this point, I dont see Newt as that person. Not saying much though.

[Ellis Pigmore]

"Well just in case you're really wanting to eradicate people I thought I should let you know, I am a conservative's worst nightmare-- an armed liberal. A very armed liberal.

And you are yet another anonymous coward afraid to use his or her real name.

Finally, if Joe decides to delete my comment, remember, because of his tying comments to Facebook it will forever be recorded there with a link back to this post"- Billy All Talk Jones

Wow Billy, you really do need to back down on the drugs. We as a civil society have creaated institutions for your kind, they come complete with armed security and food. Just in case that doesn't work, let me assure you I have no fear of Cowards like you, again as a law abiding citizen I excercise my right to a concealed carry permit. BRING IT!!!!

[Ellis Pigmore]

Cheri, what was your take on Clinton not being able to keep his zipper zipped?

Ellis, same question?

Mick, I believe most of the garbage that the Liberal Media has painted Gingrich with has been proven false. On the other hand Clinton boxed himself into an infidelity corner that he couldn't lie or manipulate his way out of. Gingrich is not my first choice for the Republican nominee but given the current circumstances, I will put my efforts and resources forward to help anyone beat the current Moron in Chief.

[Mick]

Cheri,

Currently, I am a reluctant Romney vote in the primary.

[Harold Milner]

CP, he said she said thing with witnesses on both sides. In light of The Newt's very public problematic character issues (three wives, divorcing a spouse fighting uterine cancer, numerous mistresses while being married, HR censorship, etc., etc.,) I believe the wife's version.

Despite the differences respecting your and my standards regarding The Newt's personal behavior, I'm certain you and I have common ground for agreement with respect to giving due praise to the Baptists who financially supported The Newt's cancer stricken wife and kids for a period of time after The Newt reneged on alimony and child support payments; basically abandoning his family.

[bubba]

"Some other reservations about Newt"

All the reservations in the world won't make Romney more desirable, Joe.

In addition, I don't think Romney would be as strong on the campaign trail against Obama as Newt would be.

[Billy Jones]

Ellis Pigmore "Bring it"

I live at 2509 Textile Drive here in East Greensboro. You can come here or give me your address-- your call.

I too have a CCW.

[Billy Jones]

But seriously, here's something all of you should be worried about: http://wearechangetv.us/2011/11/61-senators-betrayed-you-today-they-authorized-the-indefinite-suspension-of-habeus-corpus/#ixzz1fE4HbRCu

Be sure you not who voted for this bill and watch the video at the end.

[Techster64]

"And you really believe the man in the White house is going to change things for the better? Sweet, but politically naive. So very naive. The problem is Wall Street's influence over Washington. Unless American's figure out a way to end the bribery the problems will only grow worse."

No, Billy, I do not believe just changing the person in the White House is going to change things for the better. But, it's where we have to start to change things. If Barack Obama sits another four years, we get more crony socialism and the heavy hand of Big Government in every aspect of out life that you are complaining about. Who do you think provided financial support for Obama in 2008, and is still providing it for his 2012 run? He may rail against rich white people on Wall Street not paying their fair share, but immediately after that, he goes to their homes and places of business for fundraisers. Another thing you need to understand is that the rich white people on Wall Street are mostly rich Democrats, like John Corzine. In case you haven't noticed, he just ripped investors off for about $1.5 billion.

"Here's a prediction for you: By 2016, no matter who gets elected to the White house in 2012, the entire country will tank and a very large chunk of Tea Partyers will become disillusioned and silently support Occupy."

This is sheer delusion. Tea Party people see Occupy for what it is. An unruly, stinking, spoiled mob who want government to take away other people's money and spread the wealth. That's Marxism, Billy. The exact opposite of what Tes Party is about. The Tea Party has one basic premise; Taxed Enough Already. They just want government to leave them alone and quit spending money that we do not have. They do not want the government to tax others and give to them. Billy, take a few moments and view the Adam Carolla video. He nails Occupy and generally everything wrong with our society today, quite well. http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/12/01/audio_adam_carolla_unloads_on_occupy_entitlement_mentality

And, you demonstrate a superior attitude to keep calling me naive. It seems that you feel that you have all the answers. Well, you do not. You do not.

[cheripickr]

Carolla!!! Absolutely raw, unvarnished truth! Take out the F-bombs and it should be required reading for everyone. What's sad is that it is so ,self-evident, or should be. Until recently, it always was in this country. It boggles my mind that people born and raised before this poison took hold could fall for this crap. Until this attitudinal cancer is checked, I agree that our problems are just going to get worse, but it ain't because of Wall Street. When a parasite takes too much from its host, they both die.

[Joe Guarino]

This thread became pretty ugly.

Bubba, I agree that Newt is more desirable than Romney-- except with respect to marital/family history, which some deem to be an indicator of character.

Mick, by the time the primary reaches North Carolina, the race for the nomination might already be decided. When was the last time that our primary made a difference? Was it Reagan during 1980?

If the nomination is still in contention when we vote, there is no guarantee the two candidates will be Romney and Gingrich.

[Mick]

All very true.