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."
While we're on stinky relationships... doesn't McCain have some ugly story? Like he dumped his wife after she waited, suffered and prayed while he was a POW?
There aren't many perfect people out there folks, unfortunately. I think we should start looking at who can best promote our side on ISSUES.
Fair to who?
I would rather have Dick Armey back, than Newt.
Bullsh!t. I have 2 ex-wives that neither were responsible or had commitment. Every divorce has it's own unique problems and Newt's aren't any different.
Wouldn't it be nice if a VOTER was held reponsible for his/her vote?
Getting married, having a child and voting are the three most important things a person will do in life. Unfortunately, none of them seem to be taken seriously anymore.
He also delayed the fence signing until a few days before the election admittedly to get a bigger bang. I dont know what's worse, actually waiting for political reasons or actually sharing your tactics with the public.
By the way, that's another thing I've noticed coming from the GOP since 2000. Sharing with the media "what's coming to fight back against the democrat's attacks".
Imagine if Mike Tyson halted the match every few seconds, grabbed the microphone and told the fans exactly what punch he will use next.
Please God, no more Bushes!
What did he say that was incorrect? I have been (and still am) a huge supporter of the President, but his performance on the Rumsfeld issue and the Wednesday presser was atrocious, IMO.
new title:
"Gingrich says scandles like cheating on your wife caused pubbies to lose the election"
Here Here ! Newt knows his stuff, but he is "ethically challenged" because he's had a couple of wives...the theological wing of the Repubs is a choke point for a lot of good leaders...
Wm. Jefferson,,, did that dude win reelection?
Heaven forbid if Ronald Reagan tried to run in today's political climate. All you'd hear about ad naseum from the MSM, would be about his marriage and divorce from Jane Wyman.
I for one agree with Newt on this one. Bush may not have lied about WMD's but he sure as hell lied about keeping Rumsfeld until the end of his term. Apparently Rumsfeld was on the outs when Bush stood before the American people and said that Rumsfeld was going to remain as SOD until the end of his term.
Now Bush appears to be the liar that the dems always said he was. Way to go W.
That's why Gingrich will get my vote in the primary.
It was Newt Gingrich, NOT Georege Bush and the RINOs, who designed the agenda which took control of COngress form the Dems in 1994.
You're late to the realization Newt.
I haven't believed a word Bush said for almost two years. With occasional lapses but then more Bush BS always set me straight.
Take that joke that is the entire raison degree for the second term- THE BUSH DOCTRINE. Every word a lie.
But yet where the President blatantly lies- saying he will keep Rumsfeld- and days later fires him- you still have the Bush worshippers laying into anyone who questions their idol.
Bush lied to your face. I disagree with the idea that if he had told earlier of his plans Republicans would have been saved.
But he still lied - blatantly- shamelessly- and without any reasonable excuse.
So the political idol worshippers will make up excuses for him and attack anyone who point to the naked king.
It's going to be a full time job. They will need make excuses plenty in the next two years.
We all make mistakes, but I'm sure you would at least admit that it was a mistake to marry these women??
I blame the MSMedia for its constant attacks on President Bush. It finally worked. "Bush lied, he played on our fears" from albore "culture of corruption" from pelosi, "torture" these and many more played from our TV's and radios over and over many times every day. It finally worked, the MSM is not dead, it is alive and well.
Not fair to Newt.
HYPERBOLE ALERT
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