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."
What is wrong with these jackasses coming out from under their rocks to bash Bush NOW?
pubs eat there own dems stay on message, thats why you have nancy and harry in charge
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?"
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.
Oh yea, he has really gained by making this announcement.
I thought the 11th was Thou Shalt Not Get Caught.
j/k
Sure.
You may want to review the primaries and debates between Reagan and George H Bush back in 1979/1980
Want quotes?
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.
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.
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.
Oh? Just how does he benfit politically now? He is being crucified.
Rick Santorum lost for other reasons. Immigration Views was not one of them
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.
because i believe if you have a failed marriage than it shows you will likely fail in other areas in your life.
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
What is wrong with these jackasses coming out from under their rocks to bash Bush NOW?
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