Newt Gingrich is the GOP's only serious candidate

The Baltimore Sun ^ | November 29, 2011 | Thomas F. Schaller

[presidio9]

For over a year, I've been bullish about Newt Gingrich's presidential candidacy. Friends and fellow pundits mocked my insistence that the former House speaker be taken seriously, that he had a real chance of winning the GOP nomination.

Mr. Gingrich's personal story — his multiple marriages, the Tiffany's spending — is too problematic, they said. The former speaker is flinty, not particularly organized or well-funded, and he long ago passed his political sell-by date: a 1990s curio seeking not so much the White House as attention and relevance.

These failings may ultimately doom Mr. Gingrich's bid for the Republican nomination. But two factors make him unique in this 2012 GOP field: He's the smartest of the bunch, and he's proven he knows how to win

[cripplecreek]

I think we better hold the house and win the senate.

[SoConPubbie]

I think we better hold the house and win the senate.

Same here.

Deadlock at the Federal level is the best path going forward.

With either Myth or Newt we move the GOP to the left and run the risk of ending up with all sorts of "Moderate" outcomes on issues near and dear to conservatives.

[jessduntno]

The good news...no surprises.
The bad news...no surprises.

I just want no surprises. I think we have a shot at this jug eared Marxist no matter who we run. Except Mitt.

Geez, don’t look now but there’s a campaign starting. The winner gets to pick (min?) 2-3 SCOTII? Run us into EU style poverty? Weaken us militarily? Turn back the clock to the Great Society?

OR....

[ez]

This writer has established beyond a doubt that he has a keen grasp of the obvious.

[cuban leaf]

Cain and Perry are the only real “serious” candidates. But then, it looks like we are all playing fast and loose with the definition of “serious” here.

[ez]

A moderate R executive with a conservaive House can get a lot done, if the Senate does not still belong to Harry Reid. The real battle here is removing Obama and taking the Senate.

[Hugin]

Michele Obama gave a speech to supporters a couple weeks ago saying how important it was that hubbie appoint the next Supreme Court justice.

See my tagline.

[Carry_Okie]

The only thing serious about Newt is that he's a serious problem. The man cannot be trusted.

So you just keep on promoting a gun-grabbing, illegal legalizing, healthcare mandating, carbon regulating globalist and think you're going to get a conservative President out of the deal???

[sr4402]

This writer has established beyond a doubt that he has a keen grasp of the obvious.

Yes, the Poisoned Pen. Consider the source, the Baltimore Sun.

Mr. Gingrich's personal story — his multiple marriages, the Tiffany's spending — is too problematic, they said.

Yeah, poison, there's a lot of that going around and there will be a ton more before this is over.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Consider the source - the Baltimore Sun is a commie-pinko rag.

[RBIEL2]

the author doesnt agree with most of Gingrich: Philosophically, I disagree with most of Mr. Gingrich's policy prescriptions.

Best paragraph in article..
But this much I do know about Mr. Gingrich, the Republicans' one-man walking, talking think tank: Whether in Lincoln-Douglas style or the traditional format, he will be able to conduct a serious debate about America's future because he's the only GOP contender who has spent the past three decades actually pondering the problems, large and small, facing the country. A candidate who cites Chile's model as a possible alternative to America's current Social Security system is no poll-tested wind-up toy.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Both houses usually go with winning the White House, since most voters fill in according to party lines.

[dead]

Even though I don't necessarily disagree with the typist's main contention, I have to say that that was one vapid and shallow evaluation of the current political situation.

A seventh-grader could have offered deeper insight and analysis.

And Newt cannot "knowledgeably debate the president on any subject" for lack of an opponent. He can calmly attempt to educate the president though.

[hannibaal]

I hate Newt Gingrich mainly because I can’t stand the sight of him, he makes me want to hurl. When I see his face all I can see is a scumbag and when I hear about his personal life it multiplies the scumbag factor. There is no way I would ever vote for this guy.

[SoConPubbie]

A moderate R executive with a conservaive House can get a lot done, if the Senate does not still belong to Harry Reid. The real battle here is removing Obama and taking the Senate.

Sorry, but you are fooling yourself on that one. ALl you have to do is go back to GWB to see how wrong you are.

[buccaneer81]

I think we better hold the house and win the senate.

Agreed.

[South40]

Can You Spot The Pro-ILLEGAL Alien RINO?

[Beowulf9]

I mean, the press doesn’t even have to write the scandals. They just have to reprint them.

[MNJohnnie]

Here is why the Cult of Newt is failing. Hype, demagoguery and mindless emotional worship for a seriously flawed Cult of Personality is no way to pick a Presidential candidate.