“I meant to do that.”
Posted on 05/17/2011 5:32:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Former Speaker of the House and 2012 Republican presidential nomination contender Newt Gingrich’s remarks about the Rep. Paul Ryan budget plan had upset a lot of conservatives. Some leading opinion makers on the right have declared his candidacy over as a result.
Was it a lapse of judgment on Gingrich’s part, or something else? On his Tuesday program, conservative Rush Limbaugh floated a theory. According to him, it could have been a strategic move if Gingrich is no longer taking himself seriously as the next president of the United States.
“I mentioned yesterday that, I talked about the phenomenon known as niche marketing – niche programming in terms of radio programs,” Limbaugh said. “There’s a lot of that going on. I think that goes on in politics. I think people seek unexploited areas to try to fill a void that exists. For example, if the Republican field is already viewed as chocked full of middle-of-the-road mainstream conservatives. Does it make sense to enter the field as one of those, or maybe find a niche where you are in your mind a mainstream conservative, but differ in two or three areas – enough so that you are not called in a derogatory way a typical right-winger.”
Rush said it isn’t the first time Newt has upset conservatives.
“It’s not unprecedented behavior for Newt — not the first time,” he said. “We have the Newt and Hillary show. We’ve had the Newt and Pelosi show. And don’t forget, we had the Newt and Dede Scozzofava show, if you’ve forgotten.”
“Of all the things we know about Newt Gingrich, we know he’s not stupid,” he said. “What do you think, as he looks at the Republican presidential field and the whole prospect of the presidential election, what do you think he really thinks about his prospects? The rule of thumb, the conventional wisdom is that people that do this, people that actually subject themselves to the media anal exam, people that subject themselves to the lifestyle change, the never-ending energy required to not only run a campaign, but then if you win it, your life not only changes forever for at least four years and you hope eight. People that do this don’t generally do it hoping to lose. Now some of them do it knowing they’re not serious. They’re using it for other reasons – to make themselves known, to have on their resume ‘former presidential candidate’ so they can get invited as never-ending revolving guests on cable shows and so that the graphic will be former presidential candidate.”
Listen:
(VIDEO AT LINK)
Limbaugh explained that on the other end of the spectrum, there are people who are serious about winning the presidency and disciplined in their campaigns. And Limbaugh said that six to eight weeks ago, Gingrich told him he thought he was a serious candidate, but the latest round of behavior from Gingrich suggests otherwise.
“Now my theory is based on the belief that Newt knows his chances of winning the nomination are tiny,” Limbaugh said. “If I’m wrong about this then the rest of the theory falls apart, and I have to remind you I’ve spoken to him about this. When I spoke to him six weeks, eight weeks ago, I mean he was of the mind it was already done. Winning the nomination was a formality. The field was weak. He was head and shoulders above anybody in the field in his mind. So he had to go through the nomination process, in his mind that was a fait accompli. He was already planning his campaign and life as the nominee at this breakfast.”
Limbaugh said the motivation behind this most recent switch was an effort to win the so-called John McCain-wing of the GOP, the moderate Republicans. Conventional wisdom would suggest former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty would have that segment sewn up, but Limbaugh explained Pawlenty is trying to distance himself from it. Thus, that segment was Newt’s for the taking.
And the things Gingrich said to “Meet the Press” host David Gregory about “social engineering” weren’t meant to resonate with Republican primary voters, but another audience.
“He has to know now after that that his belief on not being part of right-wing social engineering, slap at [Rep. Paul] Ryan, he has to know that’s not going to resonate with Republican primary voters,” Limbaugh said. “He knew it before he made the statement. But who does it resonate with? Who has the potential to like that? The power elite in 2012 and beyond, the establishment, D.C., the ruling class. They’ll eat a statement like that up.”
By winning that audience, Limbaugh said, Gingrich would get attention and stand out from the field.
“If Newt can provoke attack from the conservative Republican contenders and even from the rank-and-file voters by trodding on their sacred cows, which is what he did – there’s no denying it,” Limbaugh said. “He trodded on some sacred cows as defined by this campaign. So be it if he does that. It gives him some visibility. In some people’s eye, it makes him reasonable. With this crowd that I’m talking about, it is a resume enhancement to be criticized by me. And rises above the field with this kind of stuff.”
Limbaugh said Gingrich knows this strategy isn’t a winning one in the short run, but it does consider Gingrich’s long-term interests.
“Now you’re not going to win the nomination with this strategy,” Limbaugh said. “We all agree with that, right? You’re not going to win the nomination with it. So what is he doing? This gives him a slim chance at something else and in his mind he could have him perfectly hedged when he loses. He could end up being, like McCain used to be, the darling of the establishment – media, corporate, academic. McCain was until he ran, and then abandoned – you know he was out there proudly saying the media was his base until it came time to run. When it came time to run, McCain abandoned all of that and tried to become one of us. Newt’s doing the exact opposite.”
I thought that was what Trump and Huntsman were for
I think to sum up this confusing diatribe, its easier to say that Newt has no core principles and goes whatever way the winds blow. The man should bow out now, he has no chance in hell at winning anything.
Newt is a bright guy. His problem is lack of principle, not lack of intelligence, IMHO. So I was also wondering why he would make such an obvious blunder.
My theory was that maybe he wanted to get in good with the Establishment. Get the Karl Roves of the party on his side, and they would push for his nomination.
But I’m not sure if that’s possible in the terms Rush suggests. If, as Rush thinks, he wants to get into the media business, he’s going to have to do quite a lot to make his far-right extremist reputation among those people fade away. Like Goldwater, they’re going to hate him forever, no matter how hard he tries to move left.
It's quite possible that they have all been taking a hit donation-wise especially with the recent recession.
Running for president might be the equivalent of a loss leader: he spends a bunch of money running for prez, which is then returned to him and then some via donations to his various "non-profit" organizations.
Maybe his speaking fees have been tailing off. A POTUS run could firm those fees up.
Two peas in a pod....
and two clever by half.
Maybe Newt is going after the “No Labels” nomination.
Newt got slapped upside his head so hard his head is still spinning. ...dumbass
Rush was being way too kind to Newt. Bottom line is who gives a rat’s behind why he is entering this race? I think we know one thing for sure: it’s not to promote free market principles, balance the budget, or any other selfless reasons on behalf of our Republic.
He is a self serving opportunist and should be ashamed of himself for muddying the waters about what should be the ultimate goal: Saving our Country!
Go back to your K Street dinners with your DC buddies, Newt. There’ll be other means of paying for Cholista’s wardrobe.
“I meant to do that.”
Sounds like Rush is being too nice about his dinner buddy. Is there any redemption once he sat on the couch with Nancy? I’m not surprised at his lack of loyalty. Hope he enjoys the hall of Rino shame with Lindsey Graham, Bob Bennett, etc., etc.
Maybe not. The Ryan Plan is not what I wanted out of the box. I wanted a Republican attack on Government Red Tape. And the command and control agencies. And it is Socialist engineering. Attempting to save socialism is not the right way to go. Ryan phases out not one agency.
Who'd have thunk it?
I guess this means Newt will be McKeating's VP pick.
Whatever the reason, Newtie is finis.
No one doubts Newts brains.
Its his discipline thats a problem.
Ask the people that know him and like him.
He says whatever the hell pops into his head, he goes off on tangents, he does not think before he speaks, he simply blurbs out whatever goes through his mind at that moment. He can, and does change his mind, but he isn't consistant, he "leans" in directions, he also gets momentarily swayed, and distracted, and loses focus.
If he was serious, he would check his ego at the door, and get a campaign manager, that would kick his @ss and give him structure.
“I’m not sorry! Hahahahaha! Hamburger! I know you are, but what am I?”
Good one !
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