Gingrich For President '08: Is His Baggage Too Heavy?

MND ^ | Friday, April 29, 2005 | Will Malven

[MNnice]

Details, details. When the Mpls Red Star's headline after W's speech Thursday nite was "Bush Reveals Plans to Cut Benefits," we can't count on the media to get it right and the great unwashed still think Clinton was impeached because of oral sex.

[Zack Nguyen]

Newt is a very knowledgable man. But I think his personal life disqualifies him, unless he is willing to come clean and apologize. Most people forget this, but his affair, I fear, played a major role in his refusal to address Bill Clinton's crimes during the long disastrous year of 1998.

[Zack Nguyen]

The 1998 Congressional "campaign" was one of the worst-run campaigns in modern history. Newt's flat refusal to discuss the only thing any Republican wanted to hear about - what he planned to do about Clinton's crimes - guaranteed abysmal turnout amongst the grassroots.

Let's not forget that the Democrats gained five seats that year under a lame-duck President who had already been accussed of adultery, perjury and obstruction.

[Fzob]

I really like Newt, but if he thinks he is a viable candidate for President, his ego has taken complete control of his brain.

[peter the great]

I could vote for him too, however, what if former California Governor Pete Wilson was running? Who would you vote for?

[section9]

I like Newt. However, "Newt Gingrich For President" is a really dumb idea, sort of like Heinrich Himmler running for President of the United Jewish Appeal, or opening up a kosher deli in Mecca.

That dumb.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[DoctorMichael]

Its still early Bump.

[January24th]

Newt just needs a good promo tag:

"Not perfect, but not as bad a Teddy Kennedy."

[Calusa]

I could vote for him too, however, what if former California Governor Pete Wilson was running? Who would you vote for?

He would be a good candidate. Governor of California Senator, a little liberal for my taste, way-off the radar for years, pro-choice. Does he have the fire in his gut to smite the 'Rats? Hell, I'd vote for Susan Collins if she could carry the Republican Congress on her coat tails. Why did he quit the Senate? I'd probably still vote for Newt.

[moondoggie]

Dick Morris dismisses Newt as having too much baggage...for what it's worth.

But, I agree with others that nobody has more negative baggage than Hillary and she's "supposedly" a contender.

Personally, I think Mr. Newt would be a terrific President.

[deport]

Newt's baggage........

[taildragger]

Chris,

He may run and not win and yes it may be a bad idea, but...

Look at Steve Forbes and his run, he did more for the party and advancement of his ideas. While the Flat Tax is not his exclusively, (Friedman, Glider, Reagan etc already where there) it is now the Tax System of New Zealand, Russian, Iraq, and most of the former Soviet Satellites.

With that in mind Newt's Secure Border Ideas, and advancing our education system to compete with China and India, could become the platform for 08', and that would be be great for us all. He is a Big Idea man, we need to be the party of big ideas, the DNC has baron any.

[MikefromOhio]

if he has ideas, then he needs to get out there. I just don't think he would be electable as President. VP, as I said, maybe.

At this point and time, he would make a kick@$$ advisor or something like that. Someone with ideas who can't quite get elected....

[MikefromOhio]

I feel sorry for that poor Donkey in so many ways...

[Calusa]

Dick Morris dismisses Newt as having too much baggage...for what it's worth.

Getting panned by Dick Morris is actually good news for Newt. For reasons I still fail to comprehend I followed Morris closely on O'reilly and Hannity leading up to the last election. I'm here to tell you that each and everyone of his dire doomsday predictions and polls were as wrong as they could be. He Had GW down at Abu Gr*, the stolen munitions, all the debates. But he had to choke on it. I think the next election will be about dirt and 'ethics' so we might as well have gunslinger like Newt on our side 'cuz it ain't gonna be pretty and nice and genteel-like like the last election.

[Just A Nobody]

Pubby candidates not obeying the 11th commandment. Ripping each other to shreds splitting the party,

Which is why he will never have my support. I heard him making disparaging remarks about PRESIDENT Bush several times on radio/tv even before the inauguration, IIRC. Turned me right off.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Newt is not someone I would choose to be POTUS however the guy has some great ideas that connect with the American public & he knows how to put them forth in such a fashion that folks realize that the ideas that he is putting forth are in fact common sense. And that is what is going to be needed to defeat the RATS common sense ideas put across in a sensible manner. That & the GOP figuring out that the MSM & the RATS are no longer a loyal opposition & quite often are not even loyal and that they will never like the GOP.

[Calusa]

I saw that and didn't like it. GW is home free, he's not a candidate, only history can judge him. We gotta move on to Armageddon in '06 and '08.

[PzLdr]

He lacks the discipline needed to be an executive, let alone President. He reminds me of a right wing Clinton, i.e a wonk who likes nothing better than spinning endless policy ideas. Gingrich, back in the day, must be given credit the Contract with America. He must also be given credit to doing much to neuter it's success with his braggadocio about his "revolution", his idiotic closure of the government with no Plan B, and his failure to LEAD ( a phenomena occurring yet again with Republicans).

As for his "baggage", Gingrich's personal life indicates a lack of honor and moral judgment I find unacceptable in a President.