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The Bambino clears fences at debate!
Politico ^ | 12/11/2011 | Roger Simon

Posted on 12/11/2011 7:33:52 AM PST by nikos1121

The Bambino stands in the center of the stage, untouchable, uncatchable, unbeatable. He is Newt Gingrich, and he has become the Sultan of Swat.

It is Saturday night at yet another Republican debate and — wham! wham! wham! — Gingrich keeps blasting them out of the park.

Mitt Romney claims he should be president, because, unlike Newt, Romney is not a “career politician.”

“Let’s be candid,” Newt replies. “The only reason you didn’t become a career politician is that you lost to Ted Kennedy in 1994.”

Wham!

Newt, like the real Bambino, Babe Ruth, is a man of appetites. For food and for women, to name just two.

But when the moderators at the Yahoo/ABC debate in Des Moines ask all the candidates whether “marital infidelity” is important as an issue, the new Bambino does not quiver or quail. He does not flinch. He does not duck the pitch even though he has had three wives and admits to having been an adulterer.

“It is a real issue,” Newt says firmly. “People have to look at the person to whom they are going to loan the presidency.”

Loan the presidency! A wonderful phrase that lingers in the mind. And now the Bambino steps into the pitch.

“I have said upfront, openly, I have made mistakes at times and had to go to God for forgiving,” he says.

Whammo! It is out of here!

It is an answer that is perfectly acceptable to almost all Christian conservatives. Who can be against redemption? And do we not love the sinner more than the saint because who amongst us has not sinned? (Only the media, that is, who constantly cast the first stone.)

In earlier debates, Newt has appeared haughty and above it all. But with that answer he returns to earth. He has feet of clay like the rest of us and asks the Almighty to forgive him. And so the fidelity question does not destroy him, but makes him.

And, make no mistake, what he is doing this Saturday night is difficult. Mitt Romney, who had done so well at staying above the fray in previous debates, crashes and burns in this one.

Romney lets Rick Perry get his goat. Rick Perry, who has as much chance of getting the Republican nomination as Luke Perry! Or Perry Como!

When Rick Perry insists that Romney has changed his position on something or other, Mitt angrily sticks out his hand and says, “Rick, I’ll tell you what, ten thousand bucks? $10,000 bet?”

Way to go, Mitt. Remind America that $10,000 is chump change to you.

And when Michele Bachmann says that Mitt and Newt are just clones, Mitt decides to be cute. It is a mistake.

“I know Newt Gingrich,” Romney smirks. “And he is a friend of mine. But we are not clones.”

Yes, Mitt, you are tall and handsome standing there next to Newt. We can all see that. Newt looks like a sack of doorknobs compared to you.

But what does that get you, Mitt? How does that make you presidential?

Newt eyes Romney like the Bambino used to eye a high fastball. He will soon gets his chance to whack another one.

Gingrich, an historian, has called the Palestinians an “invented people.” Nobody asks him whether Americans “invented” themselves in 1776, however.

Instead, Romney says that Gingrich has gone too far and that he should let Israel negotiate for itself.

Newt stabs the lectern with his finger as he roars back. “These people are terrorists!” he says. “They teach terrorism in their schools! It’s fundamentally time for someone to have the guts to stand up and say: ‘Enough lying about the Middle East!’ ”

The audience, as audiences do, goes wild.

If it were four years ago, I would be writing that as soon as Newt wins an actual caucus or primary, the Republican establishment will rise up and stop him. But, today, there is no Republican establishment. It has been washed away by the Tea Party.

And the Tea Party likes a long-ball hitter.

Saturday was Newt’s night. A few more nights like this — and a few actual victories at the polls — and it could be his nomination.

Roger Simon is POLITICO’s chief political columnist.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: bambino; bombing; henrytheeighth; nero; newt; realitycheck; rogersimon
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To: Ditter
As a long time lurker, I respect your POV and defer to your judgment...but we are at war against an enemy that one-half our population is afraid to mention by name.

So...who gives a frick who is First-Lady.

Newt will name the enemy...and attack!

61 posted on 12/11/2011 4:05:42 PM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: nikos1121
I think Ron Paul resonated too last night. He’s free indepedent thinker. I think he will come in a strong second in Iowa all but sinking Romney.

National Review's poll question of the day ...


62 posted on 12/11/2011 4:29:29 PM PST by cynwoody
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To: RoosterRedux; nikos1121
Sorry my post set you off! Actually I don't give a “frick” but I meant to post it to nikos. I am looking forward to Newt tearing the dems, all of them, a “new one” but Calista will probably be fun to watch as she enters the spotlight.
63 posted on 12/11/2011 4:33:13 PM PST by Ditter
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To: nikos1121

Newtmentum!!!!!!!!!!! is America really waking up? it’s beginning to look a lot like “Newtmas, everywhere you go” Love it!!!!!!!!!!!


64 posted on 12/11/2011 5:08:15 PM PST by katiedidit1 ("This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." the Irish)
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To: matthew fuller

Rubio may be a wise choice as rumors have it that Jeb Bush will endorse Romney in Fla. Saw a clip on the news...just a rumor. Santorum is good but already noted that Newt is SOARING in PA.


65 posted on 12/11/2011 5:16:29 PM PST by katiedidit1 ("This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." the Irish)
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To: matthew fuller

Rubio may be a wise choice as rumors have it that Jeb Bush will endorse Romney in Fla. Saw a clip on the news...just a rumor. Santorum is good but already noted that Newt is SOARING in PA.


66 posted on 12/11/2011 5:17:41 PM PST by katiedidit1 ("This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." the Irish)
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To: ponygirl
he would "call first, before I said anything that might be construed as inflammatory."

Oh good Lord. Yes, please make sure we don't offend anyone.

If we don't begin to offend our enemies we are doomed.

Heck at this point we not only step all over ourselves trying to "not offend", we won't even define who our enemies are!!

67 posted on 12/11/2011 5:47:21 PM PST by teenyelliott (Obama warned if he loses the election it could herald a new, painful era of self-reliance)
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To: ponygirl
he would "call first, before I said anything that might be construed as inflammatory."

Oh good Lord. Yes, please make sure we don't offend anyone.

If we don't begin to offend our enemies we are doomed.

Heck at this point we not only step all over ourselves trying to "not offend", we won't even define who our enemies are!!

68 posted on 12/11/2011 5:47:46 PM PST by teenyelliott (Obama warned if he loses the election it could herald a new, painful era of self-reliance)
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To: McBuff

Great work, McBuff!


69 posted on 12/11/2011 6:57:10 PM PST by jaycee ((("His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.")))
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To: RockinRight

Santorum commented during the debate that his conservative principles were based on a book Newt had written. I don’t remember offhand which book. It sounded to me as being close to an endorsement. This is my opinion.


70 posted on 12/11/2011 7:03:56 PM PST by Jukeman (Texas Guy born and bred and proud of it.)
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To: cicero2k
Funny how the rise of Newt and the rise of Tim Tebow occured at the same time.

And funny neither would survive a bimbo of the week media assault. And if it starts with Newt, I bet you would notice if they all were connected to a very small, liberal leaning group based in Chicago.

Even if Newt wins, I bet we see his couch-buddy Nancy rise again - he respects and likes working with her, remember?

71 posted on 12/11/2011 10:28:21 PM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: Ditter
I have watched Newt for many years (actually met him once in the Bagelicious on Johnsons Ferry in Marietta and had a good chat), but I don't know anything about Calista.

What's your take on her?

72 posted on 12/12/2011 4:02:40 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux
Possible attention hog, drama queen, look at me look at me!
She may be a fine lady, we will see if he gets the nomination. I think it is maggief who posts pictures of Moochelle in all her outrageous fashion picks, maybe she will do the same with Calista. On FR there are people who are interested in every aspect of our pols.

Where are my manners, welcome to Free Republic BTW!

73 posted on 12/12/2011 5:59:21 AM PST by Ditter
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To: Ditter

Thx for the comment and the welcome!:-)


74 posted on 12/12/2011 6:07:42 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: Palladin
Newt is more like Henry the Eighth than any other historical character. He discards wives as if they were old shoes.

Henry the Eighth was a scoundrel and, as I think it was Dickens who called him, a ”bloody blot on English history”.

On the other hand, his rule built the English navy that later defeated the Spanish Armada and led to the flowering of English culture under his daughter’s rule.
75 posted on 12/12/2011 7:34:12 AM PST by Hiddigeigei ("Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish," said Dionysus - Euripides)
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To: caww

Newt could out-moon the moon...that’s for sure.


76 posted on 12/12/2011 1:56:19 PM PST by Palladin (Santorum/Bachmann 2012.)
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To: annieokie

That’s a thought too...Mittens could have been trying to set up Newt to attach his religion....what they fail to realize iis Newt listens and thinks at the same time.


77 posted on 12/12/2011 5:12:37 PM PST by caww
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To: Palladin
Newt could out-moon the moon...that’s for sure.

He's definately enjoyable to watch..no doubt about it.

78 posted on 12/12/2011 5:15:02 PM PST by caww
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