GOP Candidates' Squabbling Is 'Dumb,' Gingrich Says

New York Sun ^ | 2/16/07 | Matthew Chayes

[B Knotts]

A former House speaker who helped engineer a sweeping Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, Newt Gingrich, yesterday criticized two of his party's 2008 presidential candidates for internecine squabbling this week.

"The idea that these campaigns have to be this utterly stupid and destructive," Mr. Gingrich told an audience at the Women's National Republican Club in Midtown. "I saw something the other day where Brownback is attacking Romney. I mean, what a dumb way to spend your life."

Mr. Gingrich was referring to a series of press release barbs traded by Senator Brownback of Kansas and Governor Romney of Massachusetts questioning each other's anti-abortion bona fides — a credential long considered essential to clinching the Republican nomination.

Mr. Gingrich also said candidates shouldn't spend two years running for president. For his part, the former congressman said he would decide by September whether to launch his own White House bid and join the crowded field.

...

As Mr. Gingrich glad-handed, posed for photos, and autographed books yesterday before his speech, dozens of members of the audience urged him to seek the nation's highest office.

"The first five or six didn't get to me, but by no. 60, it is very humbling to have a lot of different people walk up and say, 'You ought to run for president,' and say it with a passion," he said.

[KoRn]

That seems to have been long forgotten. Hell, anymore Republicans attack each other with more intensity than they do with liberals.

Of course some republicans are liberals, and I can understand the frustration.

[Texas Federalist]

I'm not sure of the presidency, but a Cheneyesque position of Executive VP might be optimal for Gingrich.

Gingrich's strength is his ideology and application to policy. As we've seen from the Reagan and both Bush administrations, the VP's ideology and policy preferences are rarely reflected in the choices of the administration.

[neverhillorat]

What to hear a joke? .........Brownback for President

[msnimje]

What to hear a joke? .........Brownback for President

Pretty sad really. Up until a few months ago I liked him.

[familyop]

After Newt starts campaigning, his numbers will skyrocket! He'll pass the rest of the herd very quickly.

Hmmm. We should all write to him and tell him to do it.

[GSlob]

"Gingrich's strength is his ideology and application to policy."
A president - any president - is [due to the physical limitations of any human being and the impossibility of managing above certain level of complexity] essentially a symbol and a figurehead, like a carved wooden dragonhead on the Viking longboat. The carved head always points in the direction where the boat goes, BUT IT DOES NOT STEER THE BOAT. Thus the function of the president is to project [others' aspirations and wishes] onto oneself, and oneself onto others, and to inspire - it is the leadership versus management dichotomy. Hence the successful presidents were not the managers but rather charismatic leaders [RWR]. Do not denigrate it - it is a rare and very powerful gift. Having it to a high degree, a leader could move mountains [one Hitler has done just that].
Policy development and implementation are the tasks of the rowers on the longboat. Gingrich could make a good helmsman, or a rowers' foreman - but he is not suited to be a dragonhead.

[EternalVigilance]

"I saw something the other day where Brownback is attacking Romney. I mean, what a dumb way to spend your life."

Sorry Newt. The "New Tone" thing just isn't working out.

Every time you say nice stuff about liberals or liberal policies, I like you less.

[hosepipe]

Here's a sample for those who know little about Newt.

http://www.draftnewt.org/2007/01/a_voice_for_freedom_newt_gingr_1.php

http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=4055

(can someone hotlink these?)

[ChiTownBearFan]

I dont believe a Rudy/Gingrich ticket could lose. I would ask those people here who hate Rudy but love Newt what they would do in that situation. Persoanlly, I think its a pretty dam good ticket

[ChiTownBearFan]

Where did he say anything nice about the liberals in that statement?

[RobbyS]

He can't win on a single-issue.

[neverhillorat]

Brownback blew it

[neverhillorat]

Brownback blew it

[EternalVigilance]

Where did he say anything nice about the liberals in that statement?

I've heard him make happy talk towards Romney, who governed as a hardcore leftist in Taxachusetts.

[GSlob]

'Brownback blew it"
He blew it twice- once in your message #32, and then in #33.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Newt could definitely help the GOP Presidential debates by saying things that might not be said otherwise, and the same statement is also true with all of the other major GOP Presidential candidates. This is one of the reasons why I presently support Rep. Duncan Hunter's '08 Presidential run. I sure do hope that whoever does get the final nod for the GOP Presidential race that they are truly able to do much better than the Democratic candidate. The U.S. will be in even more of a mess if the Democrats control both Congress and the Presidency starting in January '09.

[msnimje]

At least for now. I think he could lay low, forget this whole President thing and get back on track and in the good grace of Conservatives.

We need the "old" Brownback in the Senate.

[msnimje]

He can't win on a single-issue.

I do not understand this response to Sam Brownback not being at work in the Senate.

[neverhillorat]

YUP, you are right

[neverhillorat]

Do you get to wear a little uniform with a bright, shinny badge when you get to be a member of the POSTING POLICE? How`s the pay?