Posted on 12/06/2011 4:24:42 PM PST by presidio9
One of the pithiest quotes in American history may also be the dumbest: “There are no second acts in American lives.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald said it and promptly died before he could have a second act — but he would have had one, because that’s what tends to happen to famous and accomplished people in the United States. It’s happening to Newt Gingrich right now.
For those of us who live and breathe politics and make our livings in and around it, the words “Newt Gingrich” mean something entirely different than they do to the Republican primary voters who are now shifting over to him in droves.
We’ve made the Fitzgerald mistake: Once again, we forgot that the United States is either an uncommonly forgiving or uncommonly forgetful place.
We remember Gingrich well. Too well. We should; we’re paid to. But we failed to take into account that most people who vote aren’t paid to and have other things to think about.
We remember him going through one of the great political flameouts of our time — first helping to engineer the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress, then resigning after the 1998 midterms.
We remember the brilliant political design of the Contract with America — and how little of it actually made it into law. That would prove to be very much the pattern with Gingrich,
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I generally respect Podhoretz's opinions, so I am having a hard time understanding how he could have gone so far off the track with this one. I take issue with his pedantic tone, and the idea that only people like him have been paying enough attention to have an informed opinion on this subject, but I am simply amazed by the quote above, that he is so far in the tank for Mitt Romeny that he would go there.
John, get a grip. Bill Clinton was impeaced for lying, not on any "moralistic charge." Very disappointing.
It’s called redemption and forgiveness, two concepts most lefties can’t comprehend.
I honestly could care less what Newt did 20 years ago.
I am interested in who can save this nation today, and even more so who can embarrass Obama in the debates and reveal him for the empty suit affirmative action poster child that he is.
And Newt is just the man to do it.
The last paragraph says it all...apparently JOHN is a Romney supporter.
“The question now is this: Will Mitt Romney be able to get Republican primary voters to see that portrait? Or will the task fall in the general election to President Obama — who will use the $750 million-plus he’s sure to raise and aim like thousands of heat-guided precision missiles at an undeniably easy target?
In his mind, we should meekly accept the candidate they give us - like always.
People are paying attention this time around because they see their lives crumbling around them. The "Little People" are finally paying attention - we sleep no more.
And that is scaring the bejeebers out of the Ivy League Establishment Elitists.
And I am thoroughly enjoying their ire and their confusion...especially Romney's.
His plastic smile and “It's MY TURN” confidence has given way to a look of a deer in the headlights.
you say: “It’s called redemption and forgiveness, two concepts most lefties can’t comprehend.
I honestly could care less what Newt did 20 years ago.
I am interested in who can save this nation today, and even more so who can embarrass Obama in the debates and reveal him for the empty suit affirmative action poster child that he is.
And Newt is just the man to do it.”
*********************exactly.
People need to understand that we are not just running against the Socialists, we are running against the Ivy League Establishment Elitists of our own party.
This is a campaign of WE THE PEOPLE - against the establishments on both sides.
A POX on both their houses.
I agree that there are plenty of things not to like about Gingrich. He has been a public figure for almost four decades. But Podhoretz needs to get a grip if he doesn't think Obama will use that $750 million to attack anyone who challenges him. His people have already made it clear how they will go after Romney: He's a serial flip-flopper, and most of us here not only concede that, its the number one reason why we can't stand him. Obama will go negative on any Republican candidate because he has to. He can't run on his record. The difference with Gingrich is that he is clearly most qualified to take the negativity and give as good as he gets. Eventually the voters will get tired of it, and the campaign will focus on the issues.
And, as you know better than most on this website, a lot of the so-called "negatives" are based on bs and liberal hit pieces. Gingrich is smart for ignoring them so he can yank that house of cards down in one dramatic swoop.
It's going to be fun watching these pro-Romney gadflies change their tune when their livelyhood is tied to how well they can defend Gingrich.
With so many things for a conservative not to like about Romney, did you really need to go there?
And it's Rio Linda, not Rio Lista.
That is a stupid thing to say.
Not so much.
It's McCain's turn! Yessum, Mr. GOP-E.
It's Romney's turn! Just Go Away, Mr. GOP-E.
Again, these guys get paid to work the base into a lather. When the remaining two candidates are Obama and Gingrich, they are going to have some 'splaining to do, if they want to keep collecting paychecks.
The polls have made it pretty clear that over 50% of GOP voters do not want Romney as the nominee.
Newt is attacking obama and his administration, standing up to the media, offering solutions to the countrys problems, promises to immediatly fire obama’s czars and to sign 150+ executive orders within hours of taking office that would start removing the taint of obama from our government. While refraning from attacking his fellow Republicans. Newt is focused. I believe that is why he is leading in the polls.
The pundits are lining up against Newt.
It’s only those pesky voters who are getting in the way.
If only geniuses like Coulter, Podhoretz and Goldberg could just force us all to vote they way they want. They are so much smarter than we are, after all.
Obama will have the money, the unions, Soros and others on his side BUT when the presidential debates take place and it is Newt vs Obama...all eyes will be focused on the exchanges and who do you think will win? Newt is going AFTER Obama anyway as the other gop candidates devour each other.
Three marriages and two divorces means Newt's not likely to be elected.
He's seen as a show-off whose own tongue trips him up.
Podhoretz says Newt's strength was that he stuck around. He sort of did -- he kept his name in the papers, kept writing books and making speeches -- but in policy terms he didn't show much stick-to-it-iveness.
That's not going to hurt him in a race against Romney, who has his own problems with consistency, but in a lot of people's eyes, Newt comes across as flighty and easily distracted except when it comes to his own career prospects.
I just signed up to volunteer for Newt’s campaign, I am all in for Newt now!
Go Newt!
Ok Mr. X - So people are going to stay home or Vote for Obama though they agree with nothing he stands for and have some viehement opposition to his stands. Many Independents are DISGUSTED by Obama’s nonsense, after voting for him in ‘08. So they will not vote for Newt because of the two divorces? Does that make sense?
Hard core family-values conservatives don't seem to care. What makes you think this will make ANY differece with the independants? In Ginrgich's own words, this election will be about "Can you stand four more years of this?" I say the answer is a resounding "NO!!!"
You have criticized Gingrich and Romney. Who is your alternative?
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