Gingrich Touts Experience Over Cain

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/29/gingrich-touts-experience-over-cain%E2%80%99s/

The former House Speaker told a jam-packed Chick-fil-A here Friday that he considers the businessman, a fellow Georgia resident, a good friend. “But I think in terms of practical, deep understanding of America that we just operate in two different worlds, we’ve had two different career tracks,” said Gingrich

I found this interesting about Newt, especially the joke which gives one thought concerning how to determine a candidate.

The newt has the ability to overcome tremendous injuries by regenerating limbs.... Newt Gingrich has overcome many disasters and attacks during his career. Dr. Gingrich, the only Republican contender to hold a Ph.D, is the only Republican candidate whose record supports his claims.

As Speaker of the House, Gingrich overcame the resistance of President Bill Clinton and passed the key welfare reform bill, a reduction of the capital gains tax, and the first balanced federal budget since 1969. Without Gingrich’s political astuteness and ability to actually produce bipartisan compromises, none of these bills would have become law.

Gingrich’s contribution to America goes far beyond the enormous successes he has produced as a politician. He is the author of twenty-three books, testifying to his scholarly abilities. He has also started several nonprofit organizations focused on helping the nation solve issues from energy concerns to unemployment.

Newt Gingrich is clearly dedicated to the United States of America. He has the experience and intelligence to reform American government and champion conservative principles.

The only objection most can find to Gingrich are the mistakes he has made in his personal life. However, the personal lives of politicians often are separate from their leadership capabilities.

’ A classic joke ‘illustrates this fact quite well:

....You must choose between two candidates for president. One candidate smokes heavily, drinks heavily, admits to using drugs in college, and is very overweight. The second candidate doesn’t smoke, only drinks the occasional beer, is physically fit, and is a decorated war hero. Which do you choose?

The punch line?

The first candidate is Winston Churchill.

The second is Adolf Hitler.

http://www.hillsdalecollegian.com/opinions/newt-gingrich-for-president-1.2635733

In politics experience is not always a virtue

I agree, but I would say inexperience is never a virtue, especially for the office of President. It's like saying being an experienced driver doesn't mean you can race at Daytona. True, but you better have experience if you want to race there.

In the political realm, it is easy to get "experience" while being useless. But the Presidency is not a job that just anybody can step into. You need a lot of skills, and a lot of experience with a lot of different things, in order to be able to do that job on day one. It's not a job you can spend a year learning while doing it.

I’ll take anyone with knowledge of/willing to follow the Constitution and ability to tell the truth no matter what....

Again, I agree -- but I want that, AND experience. Surely in a nation of 300 million people, we can find someone with both. Frankly, I believe Rick Perry fits that bill just fine. So does Rick Santorum, although not with executive experience. So would have Haley Barbour. Tim Pawlenty I believe did as well (I note that those two items don't equate to being a solid social and fiscal conservative).

Which is also something I want, a solid fiscal, social, limited-government conservative. On that regard, so far as I can tell Cain is fine, I believe Perry, Santorum, and Bachmann also pass that standard with flying colors.

Heck, the only reason Perry gets attacked on those matters is because he was a leader for 10 years, so he has a record. But his record is one of solid accomplishments, with a couple of questionable decisions. We have no idea how many questionable decisions Cain would make if he ever had the chance to be in power.

Look at Allen West. Solid conservative, darling of the tea party, but once elected, voted for, and lobbied for support of, the debt ceiling bill. Lots of people here got really upset at him for that.

Cain of course supported TARP. If he had been in the senate, he would have voted for TARP, so he'd have that major ding against him in the record. That's the one we know for sure about. What others would there be?

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