Gingrich Evolves on Federal Role

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 1, 2011 | LOUISE RADNOFSKY

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Newt Gingrich's rise in Republican presidential polls has come as he positioned himself as the true conservative who could capture the small-government fervor of primary voters. But his long history of policy pronouncements suggests the former House Speaker also believes in the power of government to do big things.

At various times in his career, Mr. Gingrich has come out in favor of requiring that individuals carry health insurance and increasing federal spending for scientific research. He has backed programs run by the Education Department, which many of his peers would like to abolish, as well as national curriculum standards and a government response to climate change.

Mr. Gingrich has said he favors government solutions when they are smart. On the campaign trail, he has denied some of his positions and toned down others. And he has won the loyalty, for now, of many Republican primary voters, despite holding views that might appear anathema to them.

"When Gingrich is good, he's better than anybody. And when he's bad, he's just awful," said Ken Emanuelson, a lawyer and Dallas Tea Party steering-committee member. "But you have to take the overall pluses and minuses, and think, 'Is this guy going to be the best from what we have to choose from?' and I think a lot of conservatives are making that calculation."

[marstegreg]

I think Newt has grown up a bit since his tantrum days. I do think he does have a role to play in Washington as he is one of the few republican politicians who has sucessfully navigated these treacherous political waters. Electing Someone who is an “Outsider” may spell disaster if we throw them in with liberal sharks. They will have a difficult time trying to survive much less accomplish something. Maybe we should concentrate not on a candidates shortcomings and instead judge them on what they have achieved and what they will be able to achieve if elected.

[GeronL]

bump

[Cincinatus' Wife]

..... Electing Someone who is an “Outsider” may spell disaster if we throw them in with liberal sharks. They will have a difficult time trying to survive much less accomplish something.....

If you're referring to Gov. Perry, he's a D.C. outsider but he is no political neophyte. He's fought the LIBERAL machine here in Texas for over 20 years and as has been pointed out, he served as a conservative Democrat "pit bull" fighting spending in the Texas legislature prior to moving with Phil Gramm and many others across the aisle where their political ideology matched up. As a long time Texas governor, Rick Perry has had to deal with the federal government - fighting them in the courts (winning and losing) and he well knows where the problems lie and what a state can do with it off their backs.

[trisham]

Nice slide into oblivion. Do you just pull your remarks out of the blue?

*************************************

I guess that's a better place than where you pull yours from.

[marstegreg]

We’ve seen him stumble in the debates. I don’t think Perry has been able to out-maneuver anyone in these debates. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked him right up until he debated. After that it became painfully obvious that Obama would run circles around him in that format. I think he is a good candidate but it is the wrong time for him. Unfortunately we need a good debater with a photographic memory for facts and details (otherwise the lefty media will jump all over them as liars). In the last debate CNN fact check was saying Newt was “not completely truthful” because he did not cite ALL the statistics of a particular issue. Seriously? They will be even tougher on someone if they actually cite the wrong information even if by accident.

BTW I was referring more to Cain than Perry (he seems to be having a lot of trouble navigating these waters, false accusations and all, but I do see him learning fast, really fast.)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....I don’t think Perry has been able to out-maneuver anyone in these debates. ....

It's reported that Romney is easily flustered -- and indeed he is (see Perry out-maneuver him in the clip below). You think someone with a photographic memory, who debates well is the person we need in the White House?

Where does their moral underpinning and ideological roots come into play? The Left is going to jump on the nominee regardless. Gov. Perry's debate performances have been panned for a comment or two (nowhere near the "distractions" others have encountered, yet Perry's have been hyped beyond belief), while honest assessments report that he has done well. I want someone in the White House who's positions are understood and who has a record that can be examined -- that's Perry's CV.

That's -- I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals. [video clip] -- Mitt Romney, GOP presidential debate - October 18, 2011 - Las Vegas, NV

Rudy Giuliani asked Mitt Romney the same question in the 2008 CNN debate that Rick Perry asked him during the CNN 2011 debate -- Mitt lost it both times.

Nov 28, 2008 CNN-YouTube Debate: Sound familiar? [LOOK who interrupts whom!!]

Funny Accent Mitt Romney, discussing reports illegal immigrants did landscaping at his home: It would "not be American" to check workers' papers simply because they have a "funny accent."

[aSonofThunder]

I guess Evolves is the new word for flip flops

[AdamBomb]

CW: When are you going to give up on the delusions that 1) your posts will knock Newt out and 2) Perry will recover somehow from being a dunce?

[AdamBomb]

"Do you think this helps Perry? I can assure you that it does not. The more I see of how Perry's fans behave, the more I am determined not to support him. I've gone from being interested in him to detesting him. "

Yes, cincinatus' wife is suffering from delusions that Perry will overcome his inability to string two nouns and a verb together..... I'm also surprised how CW is now concerned about Newt's immigration stance after she defended elDorko Perry: