Gingrich to House GOP: Give In on Payroll Tax ("right for America")

THROW IN THE TOWEL, CharlesWayneCT.

Halfway across the country in Iowa, Gingrich called a two-month extension "insufficient" and scolded the Democratic-controlled Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama's administration for "lurching from failure to failure" and marveled: "They can't figure out how to pass a one-year extension, so the Senate leaves town?"

well actually it’s Politico, but hey, internet blog spelling errors can keep one very busy so, let those fingers fly, so little time, Merry Christmas! :P

P.s. your, your pun did not escape me :D

You don’t remember 2005 and the government shutdown? Or is it that you think it was a conservative Gingrich victory.

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I absolutely remember the 2005 federal government shutdown.

And while it was occurring, the shutdown was indeed a tremendous CONSERVATIVE SUCCESS. Clinton and the federal agencies couldn't spend any money.

But then Bob Dole, who was running for President leaned on Gingrich to end the shutdown. Dole hated the Contract with America and often noted that the Senate never pledged any allegiance to that effort. Dole also resented that Gingrich was the de facto head of the GOP in Washington.

Dole feared that the bad press generated by the shutdown would be harmful to his presidential campaign and he informed Gingrich that as Senate majority leader, Dole would hang Gingrich & the House out to dry as causing the misery of the shutdown. Further, as the presumed GOP presidential nominee, Dole wanted to be the leader of GOP and its messaging. Gingrich capitulated to Dole, wanting to be helpful to his party and thinking that his legislative leadership would be restored once Dole was elected.

Only after the shutdown ended, Gingrich was unfairly tarred by the media as caving into Clinton & the Democrats. In fact, Gingich and the conservatives had caved into Bob Dole and the GOP Establishment.

Further, the Establishment Country Clubbers in the House (like Boehner) felt emboldened to challenge Gingrich and marginalize the Class of '94 freshmen conservatives and their "silly" Contract with America.

Thanks to Dole, conservative ascendancy in the House and the national Republican Party lasted just 12 months. After that, the GOP establishment regained control of the Party.

I firmly believe that if Bob Dole had not been the annointed presidential nominee: 1) the government shutdown would have continued until Clinton caved,
2) the Establishment GOP would not have regained control of the party,
3) the Gingrich Ethics kerfuffle would not have been a big deal,
4) Clinton would have been removed from office by the Senate following his impeachment,
5) Gingrich would have remained Speaker until at least 2000, and
6) Gingrich would have been a presidential candidate in 2000.

In as much as Gingrich may have profited from K Street in his post-congressional period, I think he believes he has scores to settle with the GOP Establishment and to install conservative party leadership (as Newt sees it). That's why the Establishment is trying to kill Newt's campaign and why conservatives should support Newt for President.

No more Vichy Republicans!!!

I just want to thank you for not mocking me for saying “2005” when I meant “1995”. IT was a long day.

Not ever going to vote for the RINO Newt Gingrich.

Oh thank GOODNESS!!! I was hoping you wouldn’t think it was 2/3’rds of a pun... PU... (whew!!!)

I just want to thank you for not mocking me for saying “2005” when I meant “1995”. IT was a long day.

Oh my. Long day for me, too. Can't believe I missed the year, too.