President Gingrich? (Is It A Barf Or A Belly Laugh)

LA Times ^ | 16 January 2004 | Editor

[shrinkermd]

Newt Gingrich is back. Is failure never permanent?

The former House speaker resigned from Congress in 1998 after the GOP lost five House seats in midterm elections, a crushing rarity for any party that is not in control of the presidency.

As it turned out, he was also having a long, secret extramarital affair with a much younger aide even as he voted to impeach President Clinton. And some fishy political funding of his lecture series had cost him a $300,000 ethics violation fine in 1997.

[shrinkermd]

Many inaccuracies; however, imagine trying to defend him in a national election.

[Andy from Beaverton]

(Is It A Barf Or A Belly Laugh)
Can it be both?

[Luis Gonzalez]

It would be fun to watch the left attack Gingrich while the right yells "it was only sex."

[aspiring.hillbilly]

A complete dunderhead and real tainted potential candidate with a tin ear for national politics, he tried to advance Puerto Rican statehood with the idea that would bring all latinos into the republican fold...LOL

[MinuteGal]

I like Newt and I like to watch his commentaries even though he's frequently too windy for my taste.

But as a presidential candidate, forget it. Even though he's a Georgian, he wouldn't be a peachy candidate. In fact, he would be the pits

And, unfortunately, his history would be a little too fuzzy and juicy for the general public to digest.

Leni

[IonInsights]

I like Newt and I like to watch his commentaries even though he's frequently too windy for my taste. But as a presidential candidate, forget it.

Agreed. Newt's ego is driving him in this losing direction. I'd never vote for him. High level cabinet position maybe, but never POTUS.

[riri]

I like listening to Newt but let's face it, he is unelectable.

On some news show the other night they were talking about a Bush (Jeb) and Gingrich ticket.

There isn't really talk of running Jeb, is there? That would not fly, I hope it is a rumor.

[ImpBill]

99.9 % hype to sell his new book, which I would have bought anyway.

Newt knows to stick with what he does best ... explain principle's ... not necessarily live by them.

[Coldwater Creek]

I agree with you about Newt! It is too bad that he has wasted such a good mind and the ability to get things done on infidelity. He would never get my vote.

[Nephi]

Sure, there is talk of Jeb running, but everytime the media brings it up he shuts it down in no uncertain terms.

[bilhosty]

His time has come and gone. A man of towering strengths and glaring faults. It could of been different.

[robertpaulsen]

"And some fishy political funding of his lecture series had cost him a $300,000 ethics violation fine in 1997."

He used GOPAC money to fund the distribution of a nonpartisan college course he taught, Renewing American Civilization.

But, since Newt knew the distribution of this nonpartisan course would help the Republicans, the ethics panel said its use was partisan.

In a nutshell, that was it.

[tkathy]

Newt is 10 times more polarizing than Hillary. He would energize the left like nothing ever seen.

[PieroC]

"he was also having a long, secret extramarital affair with a much younger aide even as he voted to impeach President Clinton"

Wait a minute... Clinton was not impeached for having an extramarital affair, but for the consequences of extramarital sexual harassment.

[Wingy]

...Clinton was not impeached for having an extramarital affair, but for the consequences of extramarital sexual harassment.

IIRC it was obstruction of justice that clintoon was impeached for. Specifically lying, under oath, before a Federal Judge??

[noblejones]

GingGRINCH must be a demoRAT operative. An awful excuse for a human being.

[harpo11]

Newt Gingrich is brilliant but unfortunately he was so viciously demonized by the left, especially the Clinton pigs, during his tenure in the House of Reps and good old Newt didn't help matters by conducting impeachment hearings on Clinton's adultery in the oval office with young thonged intern while he himself was pursuing an adulterous affair.

I'd not like to see Newt running for the office of the presidency especially if that stalinist Mrs. Clinton throws her pantsuited body in the contest because the name Newt will conjure up all the leftist ire and inevitably they would again be gleefully castigating old Newt which would not be good press for the Republican Party.

[indcons]

especially if that stalinist Mrs. Clinton throws her pantsuited body in the contest
That's a scary thought.

[bgnn32]

This is the problem with the Clinton Impeachment he was not put on trial for having an affiar he was put on trial for purgury (lying under oath). And he was clearly guilty of that, but his lawyers put a spin on it to take the focus of the real crime and make it look like he was being proscuted for having sex.