Why Newt is surging

dailycaller.com ^ | 12/9/2011 | Joseph F. Petros III

[TBBT]

The media can’t wrap their heads around Newt Gingrich. His recent rise to the top of the polls contradicts everything they profess to know about the political world. He has taken just enough unorthodox positions to make conservatives squirm. His reputation from the ’90s makes it unlikely that independents will see him as a centrist candidate. He is far from being the new kid on the block for whom the anti-politician, anti-Washington demographic yearns.

Yet Newt continues to surge.

Those in the media who are baffled by the rise of Newt Gingrich are overlooking one of the most valuable qualities a candidate can have — the ability to change the way people think. This is a forgotten quality in modern politics, due in large part to the 24-hour news industry and the plethora of “political science” experts who call this industry home. Politics today is a game. The spectrum of public opinion is thought to be a fixed quantity, and a candidate wins when he or she can combine the support of the right demographics to capture just enough of that spectrum.

[TBBT]

This echoes something I've been saying for some time. None of the candidates - except one - has the ability to be engaging and at time inspiring. Romney particularly fails in this department. Instead of being engaging or inspiring, Romney simply runs through the checklist.

[Grunthor]

Newt is surging because we, the grass roots of the G.O.P. despise Mitt Romney. There is no other reason for it.

[Bigtigermike]

Newt was people’s fourth or fifth choice when this began....he is rising omly because the others have fallen and he is deemed as the only “viable” anti-Mitt choice left. There was nor is any great love for the man, he’s rising because of timing

[gorush]

Many people remember only the “Contract for America”...and let’s face it, it was momentous.

[KantianBurke]

“Those in the media who are baffled by the rise of Newt Gingrich are overlooking one of the most valuable qualities a candidate can have — the ability to change the way people think.”

Nonsense. The only reason is that he is an entertainer who knows what his audience wants - snarky remarks on the campaign trail.

[TBBT]

Newt was people’s fourth or fifth choice when this began....he is rising omly because the others have fallen and he is deemed as the only “viable” anti-Mitt choice left. There was nor is any great love for the man, he’s rising because of timing

Yes that's a factor. But it's not the only factor. Conventional wisdom suggest that his rise has been in large part due to his debate performances. I believe that this conventional wisdom is also partly correct. I believe the points in the article are indeed largely - but not solely - the biggest contributor to Newt's current standing.

[Paradox]

the ability to change the way people think

This is EXACTLY RIGHT! This is probably the best thing about Newt, his answers are usually so insightful an forceful, that it can change a persons mind. Not the diehard conservative or liberal, but remember, there are some 20% in the mushy middle who CAN have their minds changed. The Republicans have not had such a candidate since, well I can't remember really, I may be too young.

And yeah, baggage, etch, blah, but still, I have to give him credit for this ability. Being well spoken is an underappreciated trait among some conservatives, since Obama has shown that it doesn't necessarily mean squat. But Newt is very good at this.

[hinckley buzzard]

That's correct. In the debates so far Newt has towered over the competition, made them look like squabbling children in the schoolyard. If it were just the process of elimination, the supporters of the failed candidates would simply go to "undecided," not jump on the Newt bandwagon.

[Tail Gunner John]

“those in the media are baffled by the rise of Newt”

Baffled because Romney is their chosen candidate. They chose juan mclame in 08 because he would be easily beaten by obama. Hopefully, the Republican primary voters won't be led down the same dead end alley with the media's fatally flawed candidate, Romney.

[PALIN SMITH]

Romney, Santorum and most of the others are trying too hard to sell the goods, themselves.

Americans don't like the hard sell. It turns them off.

Newt presents new ideas and solutions.

People like his clarity.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...one of the most valuable qualities a candidate can have — the ability to change the way people think."

Not surprising. Newt changes the way he thinks quite often. He was for Scozzafava before he was against her. He thought sitting on the couch with Nancy was a great idea before he thought it was the stupidest thing he's done in recent years, etc.

[ontap]

I think he is rising because the rest of the crowd have self imploded. He has not said anything really stupid......YET!!!

[353FMG]

The reason is that Newt is smart and the lesser of two liberals.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Conservatives want someone who will convincingly present his or her message to the rest of the country. So far, Newt is dominating the field in this respect.

And mitt gives us this.....what a Nimrod

[ronnie raygun]

He’s rising because he’s the only one who can debate this fool without dancing around him because of the title. He will go after the man. This is a mega popcorn event.

[Solson]

I disagree. I’m supporting Newt because he and Cain were the only ones with original and bold IDEAS! And I think only Newt has a chance at convincing independents and actually getting something done.

[Big Giant Head]

And yeah, baggage, etch, blah,

Everyone has baggage. I don't even bash Newt for sitting on the Pelosi couch. When you're in DC all the time, you don't get objective news or opinions apparently, so he probably thought that was a really popular cause.

Divorces? Mistresses? Clinton anyone? He's still the Dem SuperstarRockstarGod and he, well, yaknow? And has NOTHING to do with the issues at hand that we need a new direction for. Not that I'm defending Newt on his morals or anything, but social issues and morals are NOT what this election is hanging on. ANY of the GOP candidates stand head and shoulders above the Barry Many-lows and his Band of Degenerates.

If Newt is the candidate, I'll vote for him. First choice? Far from it. Why is he rising? Because we want ANYONE besides Barry, and Mittens is closer to Barry than anyone else wearing the R badge. So it's anyone but Mittens as well. If Mitt is the candidate, I'll vote for him just like I did McLame, and be pissed off about it.

[wayoverontheright]

Newt is surging because the media spent two decades painting him as mean, and we have concluded that a little meanness might be just what we want and need in our next President.

Because we’re angry.

We feel like we’ve been robbed, and Newt’s the only one who’s said that Dodd and Frank should go to jail.

Because we’re afraid.

We like Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann, but we don’t want a Pope-we don’t want a prom queen-we want a SHERIFF who’s already named John Bolton to his posse.

Because we’re frustrated.

We instinctively know that our Sheriff is going to have to be willing to fire back at the criminal element now occupying our government-and they won’t leave without a fight.

We’re angry at the media for selling us this bill of goods. Newt is the only one who challenges the premises of silly debate questions.

We’re angry at Obama. Newt is the one firing directly at him, he wastes no bullets on other candidates.

We have concluded that we NEED the mean dude, the one with the guns and ammo who’s willing to use them to clean up this mess we’re in.

[Lakeshark]

I have thrown support to two other candidates, one who never entered the race, and one who was knocked out of the race. I never thought Newt was viable.

Silly me, he appears to be the last one standing (who can beat Romney).

I guess we'll see how this plays out.