If Gingrich is the answer, Tea Party has failed

Boston Globe ^ | 120111 | Joshua Green

[Fred]

NEWT GINGRICH is the latest unlikely figure to vault to the top of Republican presidential polls, and unlike those who preceded him - Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain - he’s likely to stick around. That’s partly due to necessity. With just a month until the Iowa caucuses, conservatives don’t have time to anoint a new savior. It’s also because, despite his copious shortcomings, he seems immune to what felled the others. An able debater, he won’t flop like Perry and Cain. He’s not a full-on nut like Trump. And his legislative record eclipses Bachmann’s, which barely exists.

But his late emergence as the “true conservative’’ poised to challenge Mitt Romney is rich, and its broader significance underappreciated. For two years, the driving force in national politics has been the Tea Party, whose founding myth was that ordinary citizens were rising up in defiant objection to the hidebound, self-dealing ways of Washington. Greedy politicians, this view held, had bloated the government and lined their own pockets at taxpayers’ expense, while letting the country go to rot.

[PALIN SMITH]

"Candidly, I had expected a somewhat more critical reaction so I am thankful for your note. Let me return the compliment, I find yours to be a brilliant reply. :-)"

Here's some of my rhetoric.

From the Tax Day Hartford Tea Party in 2010 to a crowd of 3000.

Palin Smith at the Hartford Tax Day Tea Party, April 15, 2010

[BillyBoy]

For the record, Newt married Callista in 2000 and says his 'journey' to Catholicism was finalized in 2009, but that she turned around and that he "found Jesus" thanks to her. In 2007, Newt was already touting his religious awakening and authored 'Rediscovering God in America' with Callista that year. You don't become Catholic overnight. So yes, the Newt I met that year was the "reformed" one who claimed to have turned his life around.

[b9]

BUMP!

THANK YOU, nathanbedford.

[AdamBomb]

"If ROMNEY or HUNTSMAN wins, the Tea Party looses."

BINGO.... I love how the Boston rag is so concerned about the Tea Party failing...... Gotta do something to try and boost Milt

[Ron/GA]

At the end of the day the Tea Party will embrace Newt Gingrich. To assume that the Tea Party was about a checklist of conservative principles is to misunderstand the energizing impulse that created and sustains the tea party. The tea party is aroused because they feel, quite reasonably, that their country is slipping away and the danger is not remote but imminent and catastrophic.

Very well said. Thank you.

[Servant of the Cross]

So yes, you have 'judged' in 2007, the Christian journey of another person, which began in 2000 and was finalized in 2009, as just "a cynical political maneuver." Got it.

[longtermmemmory]

Tea party said not romeny

well we have “not romeny”

[zeebee]

Sometimes you have to pick your battles.

I consider it a win for the Tea Party if Romney is not nominated.

[zeebee]

We posted the same thought, you beat me by 8 seconds.

[LibLieSlayer]

I am starting to believe that all of these FReepers and republicans that act like this is just business as usual are in reality, wanting a progressive America. As for me... I am still an activist and if the SHTF and blood runs in the streets... I will be there. I will not go down easy.You see... I still love the America of our Founders and not this shadow republic that these people so want to embrace.

LLS

[roses of sharon]

The GOP is dead, and most of FR just can’t quite believe it yet.

It will sink in, one Freeper at a time.

After all, I (we) used to think the same, and resisted the notion...because it breaks our hearts, and feels like giving up.

[mo]

Welcome to the United Soviet States of America..where the Pravda State Media “vet” the candidates to the pleasure and needs of the RinoCrat UniParty.

This “election” will be a non-election...featuring the state approved “candidates”-whose only distinction is whether they are black or white.

[LibLieSlayer]

You don't need to lecture me about what it is that I need to do... I have been an activist since I worked for Reagan's campaign in my state TWICE... I was in Florida on the front lines in Broward and Dade counties... I didn't see you there. I have raised a ton of money for Conservative candidates and organizations over the years... walked from door to door and manned phone banks. I cannot help it if you cannot fathom the dangers that we face. newt and romney will sell us out... they each would sell their souls for power. I looked at your page... you should be the one worrying... with a large family facing an America unlike the one in which we grew up.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

You are 100% correct... these people are fooling themselves. Many of us see it and we warn. At least we can see it and prepare for it. Most of these people that still think this is just another election and that America has all the time in the world to be saved... will never make it if things get as bad as some of us believe they will. I do not want America to go away... I want a true reformation and return to Constitutional rule... and I mean with GOD front and center... not hidden by court decree. Amen!

LLS

[Borax Queen]

bttt

[luvie]

Well said, Sir! *clapping*

[Jim from C-Town]

You betray yourself with the idea that you won't vote for X, ever. That is simple minded stupidity. It does more harm than good.

Here in the real World, we make choices, sometimes between two unpleasant things. I have made choices, life and death choices on more than one occasion and have been through the wringer.

I have stared death in the face and buried more than my share of loved ones including a child. I know life, am an adult and I don't need lecturing about what we face as a nation.

I know how bad it is and that is why I will vote for the Republican nominee. Gingrich knows how bad it is and has stated what I believe is the absolute truth. Obama is the most destructive president since Buchanan and this is the most significant election since 1860. He understands what Obama is doing and will eviscerate him rhetorically.

He can win, he can also push legislation. He will get good things done.

I am more than certain that Gingrich would be Center-Right, AS THIS COUNTRY IS CENTER-RIGHT. He would not be perfect but a damn sight better than Romney and he would turn the tide.

It has taken close to a century of bad, leftist policies that have brought us to the brink, It will take DECADES to stop & repair the damage. Newt would start to repair the damage. So would Bachman, Santorum, Cain, Perry and some of the others, Newt, however is resonating with the electorate. Romney would be bad, but not as bad as Obama. At least we may survive and have an economy after a Romney presidency.

Four more years of Obama would destroy this country, this is the challenge, these are the facts.

Voting third party or writing in the name of a person NOT in the running is childish and stupid. It is a vote for Obama by default. Plain and simple.

Beyond that, it is all posturing.

Newt Gingrich has a lifetime Conservative Rating of 90%. That is pretty high. I am confident he would be palatable.

[RichInOC]

If we’re going to start redefining success down, we’ve failed no matter who we nominate.

[LibLieSlayer]

Thanks!

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

As you well know, this is a Conservative community set up to discuss and debate our ideology and future. This is not a republican party site... far from it. I am free to discuss what I wish to discuss and when I wish to discuss it and the only person(s) that will cause me to moderate are Jim or his representatives.

I try not to be taken as being personal in responses and I also try not to come off as attacking another FReeper (trolls are fair game). If you thought that I was attacking you personally, I am sorry... that was not my intent. If you do not want to discuss things with me as an adult as you said... then ignore me. I was not trying to lecture you... I was trying to inform you (admittedly from my POV). You do not like or agree with my view on things and that is fine. I will not try to stop you from your right to think and post as you wish. But if I have a point to make or discuss... well that is what FR is all about.

BTW... I usually do not post things like the following but you questioned my mental capacity and I must correct you. IQ 158... three degrees... I am neither “stupid” nor am I simple minded. I just have a different opinion from the one that you put forth.

LLS