Why Gingrich Could Win

Wall St. J ^ | November 09, 2011 | DOROTHY RABINOWITZ

[Steelfish]

OPINIONNOVEMBER 9, 2011 Why Gingrich Could Win Herman Cain's prospects were good until this week brought accusatory testimony from a woman who showed up in person, with detail.

By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ

Newt Gingrich's rise in the polls—from near zero to the third slot in several polls—should come as no surprise to people who have been watching the Republican debates, now drawing television viewers as never before. The former speaker has stood out at these forums, the debater whose audiences seem to hang on his words and on a flow of thought rich in substance, a world apart from the usual that the political season brings.

"Substance" is too cold a word, perhaps, for the intense feeling that candidate Gingrich delivers so coolly in debates. Too cold too, no doubt, to describe the reactions of his listeners, visible on the faces of the crowds attending these forums—in their expressions, caught on C-SPAN's cameras, in the speed with which their desultory politeness disappears once a Gingrich talk begins. Their disengagement—the tendency to look around the room, chat with their neighbors—vanishes. The room is on high alert.

The Gingrich effect showed dramatically at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition forum last month—an occasion for which most of the candidates had, not surprisingly, prepared addresses focused on the importance of religion in their lives. Michele Bachmann told how, after struggle and indecision, she had found her way to God. So did Rick Perry. Rick Santorum provided a lengthy narrative on his personal commitment to the battle against partial-birth abortion—a history evidently from which no detail had been omitted. Ron Paul offered quotes from the Old and New Testaments where, it seems, he located support for his views on the dollar.

There were two exceptions to the lineup of speeches....

[GreatOne]

I second Cobra's praise of your post. I was big on Cain, but it slowly became apparent that he just does not have the widespread, and depth of, knowledge needed to be a valid candidate. His piss-poor handling of the skank scandal cinches it for me. Too bad, because I had high hopes for him.

Perry is a complete ass-clown, and I can't fathom how he's won in Texas 3 times. Doesn't speak well of that state. And Romney would the worse, as he's nothing more than Democrat-lite. Would come up with excuse after excuse not to repeal Obamacare. Cannot be trusted.

So, barring a last-minute entry, the only real alternative at this point is Gingrich. I am well aware of his liberal views/stupid alliances, and I well remember his coming out at the 1996 convention with the stupid snake around his neck. But if we're looking for a conservative Republican candidate who (a) would make Obama look like a complete moron in a debate; (b) would repeal Obamacare; and (c) has solid foreign policy credentials, then Newt is the only viable option.

As someone who vowed never to vote for him for president after he ditched wife #2, this is a hard conclusion for me to arrive at, but it's the best hope we have at this point.

[maine-iac7]

Conservatives can be some of the dumbest people....

Mirror, mirror...

[magslinger]

Newt may not be totally reliable, but if the destruction of H Cain succeeds, he is worlds better than mittens.

If the destruction of Cain is successful, I am not voting Republican. I held my nose to vote for Juan, I am not doing it again. I don't believe anyone but Cain stands a chance of winning the presidency, especially Gingrich. He is far too conservative to get support from the Repuclicrat elites and not nearly conservative enough to please the grass roots. I'll vote Green before I vote for any Republican but Cain, unless someone as or more conservative shows up.

[Mrs. Don-o]

What I like about Gingrich is that he's a known quantity. Any skeletons he's had in his closets have been pried out long ago. Nothing is going to surprise him--- or us.

He's smart, he's conservative (not conservative enough, maybe to warm everybody's cockles: but who is?) and he knows how to make things happen. He's not an Affirmative Action pick and he won't be a trainee.

I'm not putting any money down on anybody at this point, but I think he could beat Obama. And that's not just the #1 objective, it's the #1 through 10.

[erod]

I’m starting to agree with people who share your viewpoint Cain/Newt or Newt/Cain is fine with me. Newt would really crush Obama in a debate btw and I think he can better handle the media.

[SoConPubbie]

He'll also, immediately, take the steps to get gov't off small business's back - and they will start hiring - indeed, they already know he would do it - so they will start hiring right after the election.

Which is more important to you? Saving our country or putting some Ben Gay on that stiff neck?

You can't trust Gingrich to be reliably conservative, he most definitely will go off the reservation whenever the political winds, in his mind, are blowing in a direction that he deems makes it necessary to triangulate or moderate.

That is Newt Gingrich in nutshell, a consummate politician, not a principled leader.

The position of POTUS screams for principled leadership, not someone who is a politician and hungry for power.

Case in point, given Newt Gingriches latest comments concerning there being a need for a limited Amnesty is there any doubt the man will go for some type of Comprehensive Immigration Reform because:

1. The Campaign Money Sources demand it.
2. Because he thinks it is the moderate position.

[ImpBill]

Sounds as if we have very similar beliefs. Wouldn’t it be nice some day to vote “for” rather than “against”? Life goes on!

[tsomer]

I agree with you.

I recently learned that many of the accounts of Newt’s private morality were distorted.

One thing that bothers me about Newt: he’s an intellectual. Intellectuals never seem to be good leaders: they’re indecisive on one hand, arrogant and dismissive of advisers on the other. They tend to involve themselves in details better left to others.

I’m still waiting and believing that Cain will defeat the smear campaign. So far he’s done okay for a young campaign organization, considering the professional expertise behind this onslaught and the institutional bias of the press.

One thing about Cain: he is inspiring. He comes on as a man with a vision of what we ought to be. In this he’s Reagan-like. Newt has this to, to some extent. But this is what we need: a promise and assurance of better days to come. It’s the “shining city on the hill” notion, though it has to be articulated in fresher, more immediate fashion lest it be dismissed as cliche’.

Dems, essentially brigands and extortionists at heart, are experts in the arts of subversion, sabotage, legal obstruction and slander. The negative campaign mode is their turf, and anytime we go there, we’re disadvantaged. In this election, unless they change candidates, they will have no credible promise to make to the country. We will.

It won’t be easy: facing the future while defending our backs, but that’s what we have to do. Cain can do it. So can Newt.

[nikos1121]

Praytell, who can you trust. Inquiring minds would like to know.

I’m frankly tired of the bashing we see here on FR against the various candidates.

One thing is for certain, they are all flawed, but you must admit, Newt makes the most sense and is the most clear. In two minutes he can consisely put forth what everyone knows is the right path.

His ideas ignite and exite me. The idea of someone leading this country who can actually teach us about ourselves would be something not seen in this country since perhaps Lincoln...

I enjoy the debates because Newt is in them...

[nikos1121]

Couldn’t say it better...

Like the old Merrill Lynch commercial, When Newt speaks people listen....

[6ppc]

Now is the time for you doubters to give Newt that second chance.

Add one more thing. The next president is going to have to negotiate with and even strong arm Congress, even if we take back the Senate and gain seats in the House. Newt is the best guy for that job.

[TheOldLady]

Click the Pretty Waterfall

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[Lady Lucky]

If this were a Cain thread, anyone criticizing the subject would be labeled a disruptor.
But it’s a Gingrich thread and his supporters are grownups.