Posted on 11/08/2008 3:09:11 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In serious conversations among Republicans since their election debacle Tuesday, what name is mentioned most often as the Moses, or Reagan, who could lead them out of the wilderness before 40 years?
To the consternation of many Republicans, it is none other than Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.
Gingrich is far from a unanimous or even a consensus choice to run for president in 2012, but there is a strong feeling in Republican ranks that he is the only leader of their party who has shown the skill and energy to attempt a comeback quickly.
Even one of his strongest supporters for president in 2012 admits it is a "very risky choice." But Republicans are in a desperate mood after the fiasco of John McCain's seemingly safe candidacy.
Republicans appear chastened by the failure of seeking moderate, independent and even Democratic votes. They are ready to try going back to the "old-time religion."
One Republican critic of Gingrich concedes that he has an "unlimited" energy flow and a constant stream of ideas, an important commodity in a party that appears to have run short of ideas during the Bush years. But there is widespread concern about what is described in the party as deep "character flaws" of Gingrich's that would be difficult to overcome in a presidential campaign.
Nobody in Republican ranks, however, matches Gingrich's dynamism.
The consternation among Republicans is concentrated on McCain's failure to capitalize on Democratic flaws.
It would be a rocky road for Gingrich to the nomination, much less the presidency, but there are no other serious candidates inside the party at the moment.
What's clear is that Republicans are unanimous in trying to avoid a repeat of what happened this year, and there is a surprising consensus that McCain was going in the wrong direction and was the wrong candidate.
What one GOP critic calls Gingrich's "unlimited energy supply" must be overcome by anyone opposing him. Several old Republican hands feel that Gingrich in 2012 is no more outrageous than Ronald Reagan was in 1980.
What is certain is that Gingrich has the desire and the will. He has a deep-seated ambition. He had not even settled into the House speaker's chair in 1995 when he confessed to me his presidential desires for 1996. That was not to be, but he never abandoned the personal dream and is ready to pursue it now.
“I had people tell me that they voted for Obama and liked him because he was good looking and seemed like a cool guy.”
That’s exactly what happens every [generational] 16 year election cycle.
Every 16 years Democrats nominate and people elect a [relatively young] glib and charismatic “JFK”:
1960 - Jack Kennedy
1976 - Jimmy Carter
1992 - Bill Clinton
2008 - Barack Obama
Of course, Republicans reciprocate by selecting someone [relatively] old, inarticulate or unappealing:
1960 - Richard Nixon
1976 - Gerald Ford
1992 - George H.W. Bush 41
2008 - John McCain
Bob Dole obviously fits, but missed the 16-year cycle. Both he and McCain were the media “GOP darlings” before and after failed non-campaigns and practically selected by media as candidates for GOP.
Newt would do great this year if he ran, certainly far better than McCain, and he would provide conservative philosophical underpinning and background down ticket as well instead of running against Bush the way McCain did - “I am not George Bush” and “are you better off than 4 years ago?” But he knew from the start he would need a lot of money and when he couldn’t get commitment for $30M funding (which now looks like chump change, doesn’t it?) and Fred Thompson was “drafted in” decided not to run. He would use Internet far better than GOP. He showed the exact path to winning 2008 election - how and what to run on - in July 2007, when he combined in one short interview disasters which are Democrat-run Detroit, unions and “free and universal” public education system ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1874336/posts - “Gingrich calls Detroit a disaster, draws ire”).
Just because he has a polite manner in public and doesn’t resort to insulting people he disagrees with and fights against politically (Pelosi, Clintons, Kerry etc.) doesn’t mean he accepts their premise or is on their side or has been taken in by their “charms” - he just fights smarter and on higher plane by not engaging in personal attacks but pointing out other arguments or better solutions to audiences that matter. He uses them to defeat them, if one can only look at substance and past the editors headlines or third-party negative comments (many of them personal and/or unsubstantiated).
No more damned retreads 2ndDiv, sick of ‘em. Palin, Jindal and others of this caliber. Newt can be support somewhere else, RNC position maybe? RNC is dead in the water and already putrifying but doesn’t want to admit it.
RINOs OUT! “In house” backstabbers of Palin need to be outed and their careers knocked out from under them because of their cowardice and betrayal of conservatives, no holes barred.
Agreed. But I hasten to add, Obama may turn out to be a very popular president and win reelection. It could take more than four years to change that tide.
Most of us know that Newt couldn’t get elected to high office. He, more than anyone else I have seen can drive the Dems totally crazy with logic and clear thinking. His greatest strengths are his ability to think clearly and articulate those thoughts so they can be understood by just about everyone.
As head of a NEW GOP, Newt can speak as what they in Great Britian would refer to as the “Shadow Government”, the government in opposition.
Here are some YouTube clips of “The Newt”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxefNdht-FU&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9cqtJTvF4&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYfYDqTX8g&feature=channel
Most of us know that Newt couldn’t get elected to high office. He, more than anyone else I have seen can drive the Dems totally crazy with logic and clear thinking. His greatest strengths are his ability to think clearly and articulate those thoughts so they can be understood by just about everyone.
As head of a NEW GOP, Newt can speak as what they in Great Britian would refer to as the “Shadow Government”, the government in opposition.
Here are some YouTube clips of “The Newt”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxefNdht-FU&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9cqtJTvF4&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYfYDqTX8g&feature=channel
Most of us know that Newt couldn’t get elected to high office. He, more than anyone else I have seen can drive the Dems totally crazy with logic and clear thinking. His greatest strengths are his ability to think clearly and articulate those thoughts so they can be understood by just about everyone.
As head of a NEW GOP, Newt can speak as what they in Great Britian would refer to as the “Shadow Government”, the government in opposition.
Here are some YouTube clips of “The Newt”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxefNdht-FU&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9cqtJTvF4&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYfYDqTX8g&feature=channel
Most of us know that Newt couldn’t get elected to high office. He, more than anyone else I have seen can drive the Dems totally crazy with logic and clear thinking. His greatest strengths are his ability to think clearly and articulate those thoughts so they can be understood by just about everyone.
As head of a NEW GOP, Newt can speak as what they in Great Britian would refer to as the “Shadow Government”, the government in opposition.
Here are some YouTube clips of “The Newt”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRp1k0IaTQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxefNdht-FU&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9cqtJTvF4&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYfYDqTX8g&feature=channel
No.
OOPS! SORRY FOR THE TRIPLE POST!
This is exactly who I believe will be the right nominee in ‘12, and have been predicting.
Can't wait for buyers' remorse to set in.
Hell no... he will be an advisor or cabinet member but no way he could win dog catcher.
LLS
Yes she will... ans she will win.
LLS
I know. We have a much more difficult job in that respect, but republicans mever tried. The combination of GWB hatred (which he helped create with Iraq) and the media echo chamber kept republicans on defensive(and many were currupt by then) . OH yes, Pelosi, didnt really try to accomplish anything 07-08 until she got the white house too 09, another difference. Where as we solved big problems with congress with clinton as president 94-00, and Democrats take credit for it all in those ‘great Clinton years’.
Democrats are better at the cynical got-ya-anything goes politics. Republicans in 90s tried to fix stuff, but under GWB years republicans 01-08 one big gamble, ... well another post, too many things wrong, it convinces me we had to lose. Lets hope our smaller party has some conservative unity , it will be an uphill battle thanks to ... but we were going no place but the tiolet the past two years anyway.
“Palin will move up in the party but really doubt she will ever run for Pres or VP again.”
I think you’re correct. In order to be a credible candidate outside the base, she needs to enhance her resume. With a democratic government, there is little chance for that.
As for head of the RNC - I don't know. At least there would be a unified message from the Republican Party, which we have been lacking, but what would the message be? Would he continue the policy of freezing out conservatives in favor of moderates? I'm no longer sure that he would. Buying in to the Global Warming scam is the consummate “go along to get along” position that has been killing the Republican Party.
Me too. I think this would be a great position for him.
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