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Newt Gingrich, on the rise, says, ‘Hopefully, I’m going to be more disciplined’
Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, November 16, 2011 | Karen Tumulty

Posted on 11/16/2011 7:33:03 PM PST by presidio9

For months, Newt Gingrich has had a front-row seat from which to observe what happens when a Republican presidential candidate emerges from the pack to be touted as the next great insurgent hope and the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.

“This is actually the point where other people have faltered,” Gingrich said in an interview Wednesday.

The former House speaker is rising in the polls. But whether he will become an actual threat to Romney, or just another fleeting phenom, will depend largely on two things: Gingrich’s ability to keep in check the impulses that have been his undoing in the past, and how well he deals with the criticism and scrutiny that go with being a real contender.

“Newt has to remain uncommonly disciplined — totally focused, no hissy fits — and continue to be the adult that he has been during the election season so far,” said Ken Duberstein, a former chief of staff in the Reagan White House and a friend of Gingrich’s for more than three decades.

Many of those who know Gingrich are doubtful he will be able to do that. “The worst in Newt comes out when he is doing well,” said a Republican former House colleague, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so he could be frank.

Gingrich allowed that self-control has not exactly been his strong suit in the past.

“That’s true,” said the man who once accused President Obama of having a “Kenyan, anti-colonial” worldview. “Hopefully, I’m going to be more disciplined.”

But he insisted: “I’m much more relaxed and more mature than I was 12 years ago. I have had 12 years to rest and to think and to run small businesses.”

One thing he will not do, Gingrich said, is go on the attack against Romney.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: reevaluategingrich
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1 posted on 11/16/2011 7:33:06 PM PST by presidio9
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To: All


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2 posted on 11/16/2011 7:34:46 PM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: musicman

At some point Gingrich should punk Romney for the progressive he is. When you take someones one contradicting words how is that wrong? And, Romney has given all the candidates a lot of fodder to work with.


3 posted on 11/16/2011 7:52:18 PM PST by 506Lake (I'll say it again... no more compromise.)
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To: presidio9

No sale, Newt.


4 posted on 11/16/2011 7:55:46 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
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To: presidio9
These DC insider comments are like getting a recommendation from you Mother for your resume.

Newt is part of the problem. Oh I guess he will discipline himself until he gets Nominated and IF he wins the election be back to his good ole bot RiNO mod us operands. I don't trust the guy .

5 posted on 11/16/2011 7:56:31 PM PST by not2worry
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To: presidio9

Oh, how I’d like to believe he can be.


6 posted on 11/16/2011 7:58:29 PM PST by RichInOC (Palin 2012: The Perfect Storm.)
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To: 506Lake
Gingrich's momentum right now is all about staying on message and refusing to be baited into attacking his competitors.

On January 22nd, the returns for South Carolina will be in, and the Republican field will be reduced to Romney vs. on “not Romney” candidate. If Gingrich is still alive, look for the gloves to come off at that point.

7 posted on 11/16/2011 7:58:45 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: not2worry
I don't trust the guy .

This begs the question: Who DO you trust?

8 posted on 11/16/2011 8:00:02 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Unfortunately for you, you don’t get to make the decision for the rest of us.


9 posted on 11/16/2011 8:06:52 PM PST by Dave W
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To: presidio9

The Progressives gloves are already off. People had really bertter vet Newt. He comes with a ton of very smelly garbage!


10 posted on 11/16/2011 8:07:13 PM PST by Paperdoll (On the cutting edge.)
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To: Paperdoll
He comes with a ton of very smelly garbage!

Care to give a few examples? You may be surprised to find out how much you think you know is actually fabrication.

11 posted on 11/16/2011 8:12:55 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: Dave W; Impy; BillyBoy

If you think Newt can win a general election, I’d like to sell you a bridge in Brooklyn. Newt’s opportunity to present himself as an effective leader came and went. He couldn’t win a battle against Clinton over the budget showdown, and he all but handed him a second term and the GOP earned its moniker of gutless. That’s before we get to all of his other escapades...


12 posted on 11/16/2011 8:15:10 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
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To: Dave W

Dennis Miller had a great comment about Newt today. He’s the one guy who, when Obama punches, will punch back.

Once it’s Newt against Myth, he’ll punch him too. Right now he gets more mileage out of being the unifier.

Hank


13 posted on 11/16/2011 8:15:23 PM PST by County Agent Hank Kimball (Screw it. Newt's the smartest candidate and the guy I want to see debating Obummer. Flame away.)
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To: presidio9

Herman Cain


14 posted on 11/16/2011 8:22:08 PM PST by not2worry
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To: not2worry
It is important to keep things in perspective: 10 REASONS WHY CAIN IS ABLE

1) Mathematician for the Navy, where he worked on missile ballistics (making him a rocket scientist 2) Computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola 3) VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services for Pillsbury 4) Business Manager for 400 Burger King restaurants He learned the business from the ground up to turn the poorest performers into three the best performers in three years) 5) CEO and owner of Godfather’s Pizza 6) Chairman of the National Restaurant Association 7) Adviser to the Federal Reserve System and Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank 8)Writer, public speaker, and WSB-Atlanta Radio Host 9)Associate Minister 10) faithful husband, and father.

15 posted on 11/16/2011 8:27:23 PM PST by stars & stripes forever ( Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: not2worry
Look, I love Herman Cain. If he gets the nomination, I will be happy to vote for him. I hate being put in a position where I seem like I'm attacking him. That being said, if you have not seen this response to a Milwaukee Sentinel question on Libya, you should take a look. It is, to say the least, disturbing. I can think of plenty of ways to excuse Cain, myself, but you have to be aware of how this is going to look to the independant voters who are going to decide the general election.
16 posted on 11/16/2011 8:27:24 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: presidio9
Look, I love Herman Cain. If he gets the nomination, I will be happy to vote for him.

Make sure you vote for him in the primary.

17 posted on 11/16/2011 8:29:33 PM PST by stars & stripes forever ( Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: stars & stripes forever
Make sure you vote for him in the primary.

I live in NYC. The nomination will be long decided by the time it gets to us. Romney will undoubtedly win NY in a landslide. This is an example of how broken our primary system is. Blue states that have zero chance of swining red shouldn't count, IMO.

18 posted on 11/16/2011 8:32:10 PM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: presidio9

I really don’t think Newt needs to take the gloves off. When the field narrows, Romney will be forced to “bump economic/tax plans” with Newt, and he will draw a bold colors vs. pale pastels disticntion between them. But.... I really don’t think Newt needs to go on the attack. Like he said.... there is 75% of primary voters NOT for Romney, and his goal is to win them over with a positive agenda with big solutions.


19 posted on 11/16/2011 8:37:33 PM PST by jageorge72
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To: presidio9

“Hopefully, I’m going to be more disciplined.”

I wonder if he felt this way as he was committing adultery?


20 posted on 11/16/2011 8:42:20 PM PST by CSI007
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