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Gingrich says Bush, GOP to blame for defeat
Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 11/09/06 | TOM BAXTER

Posted on 11/10/2006 6:59:08 AM PST by Pokey78

After having watched the majority he engineered in 1994 crumble in this week's elections, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich laid into President Bush and congressional Republicans in an Atlanta appearance Thursday.

Taking questions after a medical forum, the former GOP congressman from Cobb County said four c's — an absence of competence in Republican performance, an absence of candor, corruption and the bad advice of consultants — led to Tuesday's defeat.

But Gingrich saved his strongest words for President Bush's performance at the Wednesday press conference announcing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Bush told reporters that he had planned to replace Rumsfeld since before the election, despite praising the unpopular defense secretary a week ago and saying he would remain for the duration of his presidency.

"If the president had decided to replace Secretary Rumsfeld he should have told us two weeks ago," Gingrich said. "I think that we would today control the Senate and probably have 10 to15 more House seats. And I found it very disturbing yesterday in the press conference, the explanation that the President gave.

"We need candor, we need directness," said Gingrich, a potential 2008 presidential candidate."We need to understand the threats we faced with are so frightening and so real, the danger that we'll lose two to three American cities so great, that we cannot play games with each other, cannot manipulate each other, we have to have an open and honest dialogue, and I found yesterday's staments at the press conference frankly very disturbing."

He condemned Bush's admission that in making last week's statement about Rumsfeld, he had known he was being misleading.

"It's inappropriate to cleverly come out the day after an election to do something we were told before the election would not be done," Gingrich said. "I think the timing was exactly backwards and I hope the President will rethink how he engages the American people and how he communicates with candor."

He contrasted the euphoria of 1994, when his Contract with America agenda helped ended decades of Democratic rule in the House, with the bitterness of Tuesday night's Democratic sweep.

"I remember what it felt like the night we were at the Cobb Galleria and for the first time in 40 years we won control of the House and (there was) the Contract with America and people were very exicted about welfare reform and cutting taxes and balancing the budget and all those things, and I have to say 12 years later that I'm very disappointed, but if you look at what I've said all year, I'm not surprised."

As for whatRepublicans should do now, he said, "I believe the House and Senate Republicans and the White House need to take a deep breath and think very seriously about this election result, because I think we're at a very important turning point this is either a temporary interruption of what has been a gradually consolidating center-right majority, or this is a breakdown of that center-right majority leading to a significant effort to establish a center-left government majority."


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: bushapologist; captobvious; gingrich; newt; newtgingrich; skyisblue; sunsetsinthewest
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To: Pokey78

What is wrong with these jackasses coming out from under their rocks to bash Bush NOW?


161 posted on 11/10/2006 7:55:44 AM PST by EnquiringMind
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To: dfwgator

pubs eat there own dems stay on message, thats why you have nancy and harry in charge


162 posted on 11/10/2006 7:55:44 AM PST by italianquaker (Democrats its time to fish or cut bait, no more blaming Prez Bush.)
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To: jackv

Don't you think holding off on what he was already intending to do until the day after the election is using "the military for political purposes?"


163 posted on 11/10/2006 7:55:51 AM PST by B Knotts (Newt '08!)
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To: MAD-AS-HELL

I happen to agree with Newt on this. Bush should have announced Rumsfeld's "resignation" weeks --if not months ago. He shold have separated it from the election completely. Now he just looks weak.
For the first time...I am truly dissapointed in President Bush.


164 posted on 11/10/2006 7:55:56 AM PST by amutr22 (Remember....Friend's Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat!)
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To: Pokey78
I will not vote for him
not ever...
165 posted on 11/10/2006 7:57:30 AM PST by firewalk
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To: B Knotts

Oh yea, he has really gained by making this announcement.


166 posted on 11/10/2006 7:57:47 AM PST by jackv (just shakin' my head)
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To: jackv
Anyone who thinks Bush should use the miliatry for political purposes is a true disappointment to me.



Then Bush must be a pretty big disappointment for you. He is for me.
167 posted on 11/10/2006 7:58:15 AM PST by Blackirish
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To: montag813
Politics is not about being right or wrong in the intellectual sense, but instead it's about being right, winning, and implementing your ideas when you get power.

Newts legislative and personal miscalculations in the mid 90s almost costs the GOP both Houses in 1998.

Then he has the audacity to criticize someone who has had, at times and at times rightfuly so, to fight battles alone because the GOPers in the House had no balls to do so.

Newt doesn't strike me a someone who is ready to be President. He's at times like a an ex-cabinet member who would go on 60 minutes to sell or book or further his own poltical career. How many times has Newt in past six years has lifted a finger to support the President???
168 posted on 11/10/2006 7:58:27 AM PST by Perdogg (I'm Perdogg and I approved this message)
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To: cloud8

I thought the 11th was Thou Shalt Not Get Caught.

j/k


169 posted on 11/10/2006 7:58:28 AM PST by Lord_Baltar
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To: bill1952

Sure.


170 posted on 11/10/2006 7:58:45 AM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: LibLieSlayer
Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." ...THAT IS A REAGAN CONSERVATIVE PROCLAMATION THAT MANY On FR WILL IGNORE.

You may want to review the primaries and debates between Reagan and George H Bush back in 1979/1980

Want quotes?

171 posted on 11/10/2006 7:58:46 AM PST by MaineVoter2002 (Election 2006 - Democrat Win, Conservative Mandate)
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To: hawkaw
Disagree - based on the exit polling data showing overwhelming support for the plan to legalize the illegals. I think it was something like 58 to 38 in favour of making a path to citizenship.

Hey...I happen to have a bridge to sell in Brooklyn. Interested?

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when considering that supposed poll result: the wording of the question (which merely asked about a path to legalization, omitting any specifics), and the reluctance by many to seem "mean," and tell a pollster their true feelings. Other recent polls completely contradict this poll.

172 posted on 11/10/2006 7:59:04 AM PST by B Knotts (Newt '08!)
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To: Ozarkie

Here is the deal.

Newt led the Republican Revolution.

For that, I am grateful.

Had he maintained his role as the Speaker and kept the Republicans in line for limited government, conservative social principles and fiscal responsibility, we would not be having this discussion.

He let us down. For that, I am not grateful.


173 posted on 11/10/2006 7:59:05 AM PST by Paloma_55 (I may be a hateful bigot, but I still love you)
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To: oyez
"Every so often we get someone that can make real a difference only to have them to self destruct on the launching pad."

Whoaaaaa, partner.
Newt did no such destruction on the launching pad or any other such thing.

The Liberal-Socialist quisling media destroyed the man.
And destroyed him based on groundless accusations which if/when ever compared to 'Rat candidates behavior(s) easily pale by comparison.

For example let's revisit a few names we've all heard often & a lot, recently?

>>Barney "My Boy Lollipop" Franks *boyfriend* runs a homosexual BROTHEL outa his Washington DC townhouse & claims, "I didn't KNOW it was going on" & be reelected how many times, stand at the precipice of heading (no pun intended) a committee?
>>Gary "The Studd" Studds dorks young teenage male pageS & be reelected how many times?
>>William Jefferson "Clintigula" Clinton's dribbling on a 21 year old intern -- among God knows what else -- & it's "Only about sex" & no business of the voters?

But let ONE LONG KNOWN homosexual REPUBLICAN send one or more text messages to a 21 year old moron -- never laying a finger on the lad, mind you -- and woe be us.
Terminate all Republicans, eh?

Why?

Because NEWSPAPERS and/or Liberal-Socialist networks SAY it is or isn't "OK"?
Right?

But don't let Newt file for divorce!!
LOOKOUT, Newt's UNfit!!
Ridiculous.

Worst of *all* fair weather "conservatives" {spit} stood by & watched the bastards lynch the man, did and said nothing.
Beyond shameless.

Why a talented man like Newt Gingrich even cares anymore about the ingrates supposedly supporting the conservative cause is beyond me, sincere concern & love of the nation I'd guess.
Had it been me I'd have flipped a middle finger to 'em all & walked away.

If this party ever hopes of seeing success again it'll be because we inform ourselves.
KNOW who & what our candidates are and hold their feet to the proverbial fire to insure they perform at or above our expectations.
But never, EVER listen to Word #1 from any media source whatsoever when it comes to our elected people.
Ever.
No exceptions.

"Newt, we really need you back then, but we don't need you now."

Oh the conservative cause needs this man, his clarity & rock solid conservative principles more than ever, make no mistake about that.
Even if the "average" conservative voter's never been stupider, more gutless & doesn't realize they're up to their alligators in grief.

"Stay at the university and teach the kids how the government should work and not to screw up while millions are counting on you."

Sage advice if only for one thing: there were a *million* -- or more -- "Newts" to staff the institutions of higher learning.

But we -- you & *I* -- know there ain't.
We also know something else, for certain.

...who is staffing those places.

174 posted on 11/10/2006 7:59:49 AM PST by Landru (That does it, no sleep number for you pal.)
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To: Blackirish

Oh? Just how does he benfit politically now? He is being crucified.


175 posted on 11/10/2006 7:59:53 AM PST by jackv (just shakin' my head)
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To: hawkaw

Rick Santorum lost for other reasons. Immigration Views was not one of them


176 posted on 11/10/2006 8:00:35 AM PST by MaineVoter2002 (Election 2006 - Democrat Win, Conservative Mandate)
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To: hawkaw
Santorum is a great example of the conservative hubris that turned off much of the country, including Southern states...

Another great example of conservative social policy failure was Delay's district. The voter did not even need to spell Gibbs right, and this previously heavy and solid republican district voted for the Dem.

Until conservative figure out that attacking all the moderates in the party over social issues was not a winning strategy, they will continue to spiral into the political abyss.

177 posted on 11/10/2006 8:01:43 AM PST by Cold Heat (We blew it..... So back to work we go........)
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To: Ouderkirk

because i believe if you have a failed marriage than it shows you will likely fail in other areas in your life.


178 posted on 11/10/2006 8:01:58 AM PST by Halls (God, please grant me the serenity to accept what I can not change....)
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To: beaversmom
Well you take what you can get. Wasn't McClintock running for Lt. Gov? Is that tied to the governor's ticket or is it separate? Did he win?

It's a separate race.

McClintock lost to the Dim 49.4% to 45.0% (about 300,000 votes).

CA Secretary of State website - Lieutenant Governor election results

179 posted on 11/10/2006 8:02:10 AM PST by highball (Proud to announce the birth of little Highball, Junior - Feb. 7, 2006!)
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To: EnquiringMind

What is wrong with these jackasses coming out from under their rocks to bash Bush NOW?



When us doom and gloomers were predicting this massacre would happen if the Repubs and W didn't shape up we were told to shut up and not depress the forum. Now that it's happened I guess were still sposed to just shut up. Fat chance Bushbot


180 posted on 11/10/2006 8:02:29 AM PST by Blackirish
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