If bipartisan hatred is the measure for a successful GOP candidate, Newt’s the guy….

Flopping Aces ^ | 12-06-11 | Mataharley

[Starman417]

We've all speculated about the impact of a candidate vs Obama just by watching how the Dem elected ones and media respond. The more the libs and media obsessed with daily headlines, proliferating drip campaign scandal suggestions, the more conservatives knew we were hitting a nerve. The question has always been, can the drip scandal headlines gain traction? With Palin, it was clear they feared this outsider and her enthusiastic support that added life to an otherwise dreary acceptance to a McCain nomination.

Yet Palin was a polarizing figure within the conservative movement herself, inviting surgical and unfavorable scrutiny not only from the opposing party and the media, but from "moderate" conservatives who felt she was uninformed and too radical to be the VEEP.

Flash forward to 2012. With a bevy of GOP candidates who have taken turns exciting the base, only to fall from grace for one reason or another... and faced with the ever present "anyone but Romney" attitude... we find ourselves with Newt, surging in the latest Iowa "post Cain" poll from the New York Times/CBS News. The infamous ostracized one is leading Romney by the nose - literally - at 31-29. Even when the past favorite dark horse, Herman Cain, was factored in, Newt still came out on top with 28%, trailed by Romney with 18%, and Ron Paul at 14%.

There is no doubt that conservatives see no Ronald Reagan in the slim pickin's here. Nor can any stand out as perfect or few sans flaws. If they aren't laden with baggage, they lack the ability to inspire, or to debate effectively.

But my mind has been a'swirl of late, watching the bipartisan hatred mount furiously over the unlikely ascent of Newt. While he's hardly a "Nixon" in his past, he's certainly been excoriated almost as severely over time. Newt, himself, has done little to abate this criticism. In fact, when Newt's campaign imploded this past summer, with staffers leaving en masse to jump on the Rick "the chosen one" Perry's campaign, the complaints were rife with criticism and complaints about Newt's lavish lifestyle and spending, combined with what appeared to be a lackadaisical attitude towards a serious campaign. When the Gingrich's took off on a vacation, that was the staff's final straw.

But Newt didn't flinch... didn't quit. Nor has he made any attempt to shirk the responsibilities of his early campaign extravagant debt. Tho there are those that have observed Newt may have violated campaign reporting regulations, even his former staffer, Rick Tyler, speaks favorably of Newt, saying "“Newt will pay them, I’ve got no question in my mind about that. He’s got integrity, and he pays his debts.”

Obviously, Newt tackles his flaws not by trying to avoid them, but by trying to remedy them. During his House ethics investigation, he admitted that "In my name and over my signature, inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the committee". You have to give someone credit who steps forward and admits errors and/or perceived wrong doing. Then again, the IRS absolved Newt of any tax avoidance, despite the House ethics committee suggesting that was the case.

One of the problems I have had with Newt has been the same with other conservatives... are we talking about an establishment GOPer in wolf's clothing here? But today's establishment GOP hates Newt almost as much, if not more, than the liberals. As Rush Limbaugh pointed out yesterday, the elected elite of both parties are sharpening their long knives for Newt. Establishment Republicans are looking at him like an arch-neoconservative. And on the other side, liberals are all over the press, beside themselves with giddiness at a Newt nomination, saying it would result in a "landslide for Obama".

[TexasCajun]

You ain't seen nuthing yet!

Just wait until Sarah Palin makes her endorsement.

[annieokie]

""""""As Rush Limbaugh pointed out yesterday, the elected elite of both parties are sharpening their long knives for Newt. Establishment Republicans are looking at him like an arch-neoconservative."""" All the more reason I back NEWT.

""""And on the other side, liberals are all over the press, beside themselves with giddiness at a Newt nomination, saying it would result in a "landslide for Obama"""".

Meaning they FEAR BULLDOG NEWT, and DO NOT want their manchild to face him in the general. All the more reason I back NEWT. Just listen, the Dems, will always tell you who they don't want, don't throw me in that Briar Patch.

[skeeter]

The media/democrat/GOP establishment cabal's intention has been as obvious as hell - Romney has been a front runner for three months and has been scarcely touched by the media while everyone else has been savaged.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I despise Noot, but at least he's not Myth.

[fightinJAG]

Establishment Republicans are looking at him like an arch-neoconservative.

This is completely inaccurate.

Newt is not viewed as an "arch-conservative" by anyone but Johnny-come-latelys in these primaries who refuse to review what Newt has been engaged in since leaving the House and who dismiss anyone who has personal knowledge of working with Newt in the House.

They hate him for other reasons. Reasons, I think, will eventually become apparent even to the most ardent fans. However, by then, it may be too late.

[uncbob]

Newt versus Obama could be the greatest presidential campaign in ages

Newt isn’t a wimped out pussy footer like Bush and McCain and will fight back both against Obama and the MSM

Me thinks the public will like a fighter