Good analysis. Remember when Newt tried to shut down the Gov't? The media was brutal with their nightly stories of poor inconvenienced people who couldn't get into national parks and such other gross violations of human rights.
You bring up an interesting situation. Newt was pretty much holding his own, despite the manipulations of the media by the Clinton White House. Remember, it was Clinton who refused to sign legislation. Newt just said, okay, we’re at an impasse then.
The Clintons and the media made it sound like the world was coming to an end. Why Newt had shut down the government! Still Newt remained strong in the face of it.
One Thursday and Friday in the heat of that battle, the media was beginning to release reports that the Clinton White House was going to be active all weekend, since some resolution must be found. The public was being primed to accept capitulation by the Clinton White House.
Newt had stood firm, and now Clinton was going to have to make some token capitulation. This would have set the groundwork for future dealings with the Clinton White House.
Newt was a whisper from total vindication, total victory.
That very Friday afternoon, in front of a camera stepped Bob Dole to say, “We’ve got to put an end to this. We can’t continue to hold the nation hostage.” (Paraphrased)
In less than a minute, Bob Dole had defused the need for the Clinton White House to take action. In less than a minute he had made Newt the villain. In less than a minute, Bob Dole had not only destroyed Newt Gingrich, but the Conservative movement, and to a large extent, the ability for the Republicans to mount a resolute objection to just about anything a Democrat wanted. It was the inception of the “Stick your neck out for Conservatism, and die the death of a thousand cuts” doctrine.
It was one of the most seminal moments since Reagan left office. It scripted the next decade, one which would see Republicans terrified to go out on a limb and take a stand against the socialist, Communist, Marxist, and Fascist stances of the left, on just about anything.
We’re still paying the price today.
That’s what a RINO will do to you. And it’s why I beg the leadership, to politically cut people like McCain off at the knees. They just kill you.