Posted on 04/17/2005 1:52:04 PM PDT by wagglebee
Will the 2008 presidential race be a contest between Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich?
Speculation is spreading this weekend as the former speaker of the House is reported to be "plotting an eye-catching comeback," according to London's Sunday Times.
Gingrich, the Republican revolutionary who designed the GOP's "Contract with America" in the 1990s, is spending tomorrow and Tuesday in New Hampshire, before heading next month to Iowa, two states at the vanguard of presidential campaigning with their early primaries.
In fact, he mentioned both in a comment last week, stating, "If I want to be effective at defining the idea framework for 2008, there's nothing I can do that's more effective than go to New Hampshire and Iowa. That's the place to get your attention."
But when asked about a White House run, Gingrich replied, "That's a conversation we ought to have in the summer of 2007. The minute I talk about candidacy ... everyone is going to get into horserace baloney. From now until 2007 we ought not to focus on personal ambition."
It's been seven years since Gingrich has been in office, where he served as House speaker from Georgia.
"Is there a vacancy for an outsider? I couldn't agree more," Gingrich told the Times. "I think there's a huge vacuum in the Republican leadership. We're going to have a huge struggle over the next four years, but that's good. I'm delighted to be part of that ferment."
He dismissed suggestions the GOP might split between conservative and moderate groups, given no automatic successor to President Bush.
"We are the natural governing majority party of America today," he said. "There's far greater danger of the Democrats being a desert of intellectual barrenness than there is of the Republicans splitting up."
But he also warned against overconfidence.
"I think Senator Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee," he said. "She is professional, smart, systematic and she is moving to the center in a very rational way," noting neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton have lost an election in the past 25 years.
"Any Republican who thinks we are going to beat her easily does not have a clue about the history of the last 30 years."
In New Hampshire, Gingrich is the keynote speaker a GOP state party fund-raiser near Manchester. He'll also be at book-signings promoting his latest work, "Winning the Future," and visiting editorial boards of at least three newspapers.
"Is Newt Gingrich a contender?'' New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Warren Henderson asked the Boston Herald. "He is if he wants to be. He will command attention.''
When asked Thursday by the Nashua Telegraph about a White House run in three years, Gingrich did not rule it out.
"I'm not even thinking of 2008," he told the paper. "I am interested in moving the ideas a lot more than moving Newt Gingrich."
He gave Bush high marks for addressing the problems with Social Security.
"I admire the president's courage. He has taken up exactly the right issue, but it has not been done with the right focus."
He told the Telegraph Bush needs to zero in on present-day losses for young people who could be investing their tax dollars on Wall Street.
"You can't get the American people worried about a government problem 15 or 17 years from this time," he said.
Gingrich is looking to expand the Contract with America by stopping the slide toward secularism by the courts and government schools, and put the Creator back as the source of all liberties.
He also seeks the teaching of patriotic education, incentives for students to become math and science teachers, and more investment in intelligence to combat terrorists.
"These things are going to be hard," he told the Telegraph. "There is no magic bullet. There is no survivor TV show where you sit on a beach and say, 'Gee, let's win the contest and take this thing by next Tuesday. This is real-live survival. That takes time."
Jeb Bush never announced any further political aspirations anyway. As for the Schiavo case. It was not Jeb's doing. It was michels, and the judges...poor excuses for human b eings as they are.
Very well said o'toole. You've outlined basic conservative issues. No authentic conservative could or should support this candidacy, not in the era of the Values Voters who won the day for GWB. VV are so important, even (gag) Hillary is slithering to the right.
Amen and amen.
When was the last time you saw a former House Speaker get elected President? I like the guy but he is not Presidential material.
Amen on Allen.
It's time Virginia made up for our last son as president, namely Wilson.
A President George Allen would follow in the footsteps of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.... (not to mention, Harrison, Tyler, and Taylor).
Not sure America is ready for Condi Rice...(or Condi for America, frankly). Her moderate pro-choice views concern me...especially in light of the Schiavo debacle.
I read the pertinent parts of the Florida Constitution. Everything that I read lead me to conclude that Jeb Bush was clearly within his authority to order law enforcement officials to take custody of Terri Schiavo, in fact he is rumored to have attempted this but pulled the plug at the last minute. Jeb Bush fell into the same trap that so many others have, he has been convinced that the judiciary is somehow superior to the legislature and the executive -- that it is perfectly acceptable to ignore Congressional legislation, to ignore a governor's executive order, but under no circumstances can anybody ignore an out-of-control judge.
Hell, how many former House Speakers can most people even name?!
Enough said.
Conversely, if Mr. DeLay stands up to the Demo(n)cRAT lies and cuts them a new one, he becomes the logical successor to Dubya.
That would be the Demo(n)cRATS worst nightmare, and they would have brought it upon themselves.
I'd have to have solid proof of that. Sorry, I just would.
Reagan broke his to Jane Wyman. He turned out fine!
I have to agree that I would not trust Newt with the Presidency given his lacking demonstration of integrity.
President Ted Nuggent mo bettah
He would be the most conservative president we have ever had. Better than any RINO discussed to date.
I would back him.
Get on board freepers...who you gonna back...Jeb(limp wrist) or ...Condi??(overrated)
Newt 2008!!!!!
your are right on waggle...he would push the conservative envelope from day one. Im tired of these weak RINOs.
Same reason I can't stand Giuliani...
GEORGE W's conservatism means rising government/pork spending, country being destroy by illegal aliens, more debasing of our NATIONALIST values, concerned more about his SPANISH skills than furbishing his fluency in ENGLISH etc.
I agree, GEORGE ALLEN is as conservative as GEORGE W. BUSH. Imagine what would happen if he becomes more conservative than GEORGE W BUSH?
Pay particular attention to the following sections: Article I, Section 2; Article IV, Section 1, subsections a, b, c and d (especially "b").
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?Mode=Constitution&Submenu=3&Tab=statutes
Yes I agree with your assessment. A better strategy for him would be to seek public office again as a Governor first before the Presidency. He would have to reestablish himself. Even then it would be uphill.
Jane Wyman wanted the divrce, not Reagan....he was DEVASTATED. Please get the facts right.
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