Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Newt Gingrich is no conservative
Washington Examiner ^ | 111411 | Gene Healy

Posted on 11/14/2011 10:08:40 PM PST by Fred

Has it really come to this? Newt Gingrich as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney? That's what many in the punditocracy have proclaimed as the former speaker of the House has surged recently in the polls.

Yet a look at his record reveals that Newt is hardly the "anti-Mitt" -- he's Mitt Romney with more baggage and bolder hand gestures.

Every Gingrich profile proclaims that he's a dazzling "ideas man," a "one-man think tank." It seems that, if you clamor long enough about "big ideas," people become convinced you actually have them.

But most of Gingrich's policy ideas over the last decade have been tepidly conventional and consistent with the Big Government, Beltway Consensus.

Gingrich's campaign nearly imploded this summer when he dismissed Rep. Paul Ryan's, R-Wis., Medicare reform plan as "right-wing social engineering." But that gaffe was a window into Gingrich's irresponsible approach toward entitlements.

In 2003, Gingrich stumped hard for President George W. Bush's prescription drug bill, which has added about $17 trillion to Medicare's unfunded liabilities. "Every conservative member of Congress should vote for this Medicare bill," Newt urged.

And in his 2008 book "Real Change," he endorsed an individual mandate for health insurance.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: centralplanner; cronycapitalist; gingrich; gingrichromney; gingrichtaxandspend; gingrichtruthfile; rino; tool
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last
To: Marine_Uncle

I just took the numbers off of the debt clock that’s all.


81 posted on 11/15/2011 12:23:02 AM PST by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Good enough TE. I don’t know why but I logged out then logged in. I guess I was curious as to if you might have responded. It is late at my end. But your answer was good enough. Let me absorb your comments tomorrow as I look at the debt clock site. I’m relieved there probably is no contention between us. Again do have a great upcoming day. I gotta hit the rack.


82 posted on 11/15/2011 12:36:27 AM PST by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: Goldie Lurks

By spending so much time complaining, Newt takes time away from the other candidates. I’m siding with the other candidates who are getting their time taken from them by Newt.

He says the same stuff every time. Right, 8 people aren’t going to solve all the worlds problems with their collective intellect in an hour.

But each candidate should be able to get their message out, at least a little. But Newt gets Newt’s message out, and bashes the media. And others get less time to get their message out.

It’s true, I think, but it really isn’t the worst situation. Romney seems to get about half the time. Newt gets less.


83 posted on 11/15/2011 12:42:17 AM PST by truthfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Fred

Say what you want to about Newt but he shines in debates. That’s one of the factors in his rise in the polls.


84 posted on 11/15/2011 12:46:49 AM PST by sarah palin rocks (q))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Marine_Uncle
I’m relieved there probably is no contention between us.

Oh, I don't think there is. I can take quite a bit of knocking around without holding a grudge anyway but it seems you didn't intend to do that in the first place.

FWIW Its probably necessary to use crayons and stick figures to explain financial matters to me.

85 posted on 11/15/2011 12:53:18 AM PST by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: sarah palin rocks

I am not saying what I want, it is his record. You all can hide from Newt’s record but you better be ready to defend it. So far I have heard nothing that show you can defend it.

So get to work or shut up.


86 posted on 11/15/2011 12:58:44 AM PST by Fred (no job no house no gas no food no problem Obama 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Fred

No one is good enough for my child


87 posted on 11/15/2011 1:10:06 AM PST by woofie (It takes three villages and a forest of woodland creatures to raise a child in Obamaville)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: truthfreedom

How many jobs will be created by Libya experts?


88 posted on 11/15/2011 1:11:59 AM PST by federal__reserve (Obama Vs Perry presidential debates are my worst nightmare! Those will get huge audiences.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: truthfreedom

“I’m siding with the other candidates who are getting their time taken from them by Newt.”

More like attempting to dump on Newt again. Much rather have someone such as Newt who demonstrates assertiveness, gumption and spine (dealing with liberal moderators and the liberal media) rather than a mealy-mouthed person during the primary who later allows him/herself to be steamrolled by the liberals during the general election.


89 posted on 11/15/2011 1:27:46 AM PST by Goldie Lurks (professional moonbat catcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: Goldie Lurks

No, I’m just saying that Newt taking everyones time by saying things that aren’t really interesting or insightful, like “we can’t answer these questions thoroughly in 30 seconds”. Of course Newt. But you can get your 30 seconds of talking points out there. People know that these debates are really just a method for the candidates to get their message out. That’s the way it’s always been, and people are fine with that. We can look everything up on the internet if we want more information. 3 wives, great, Newt.


90 posted on 11/15/2011 1:36:16 AM PST by truthfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: federal__reserve

Do you even get my point?

My point wasn’t that he was insufficiently informed.

My point is that he has the exact same foreign policy as the most Liberal President in US History.

Liberal President is Liberal.
Herman Cain is agreeing with the Liberal.
Herman Cain is a Conservative?

All of these Foreign Policy “Conservatives” agree on Foreign Policy with the Marxist President a lot.

There isn’t much difference between Marx and Trotsky, really. Neither are Conservative.


91 posted on 11/15/2011 1:40:42 AM PST by truthfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: truthfreedom

Siding with liberal moderators and the liberal media is your prerogative.


92 posted on 11/15/2011 2:05:59 AM PST by Goldie Lurks (professional moonbat catcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: Fred
Newt is the most highly intelligent candidate for president that I have seen in my lifetime. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he would be a great, or even good, president.

He suffers from the same unsteady quirkiness that afflicts many highly intelligent people. Regardless of his intellect, he is governed by his emotions which I believe are all over the map.

His biggest problem is his ego as he believes that he is truly a great man and would seek to astound the world with his self-imagined greatness. Who knows what this would lead to?

All that said, he is the best speaker and debater in the GOP field and would make a laughing stock of Obama in debates leading to the general election.

If Gingrich were elected, FR would be on an emotional rollercoaster as he alternately made us all cheer and, then, boo his wild swings in governing.

93 posted on 11/15/2011 3:00:15 AM PST by Dr. Thorne (Fall on your knees before Christ, your only salvation!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Thorne

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/romney-two-way-race-is-now-four-way-republican-dead-heat-in-iowa-caucuses.html

Bloomberg Poll came out tonight 4 way tie for first

Cain 20%
Paul 19%
Romney 18%
Newt 17%

This is really getting to be fun, finally a race..


94 posted on 11/15/2011 3:14:28 AM PST by Fred (no job no house no gas no food no problem Obama 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: truthfreedom

I have never voted for anyone for president who was NOT a Democrat, but this time I’m going Republican. I can tell you that I would vote for Newt.


95 posted on 11/15/2011 3:27:57 AM PST by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Fred

I like Speaker Gingrich and so does my husband.


96 posted on 11/15/2011 3:57:15 AM PST by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TitansAFC

Thank You!

Romney 24% Newt 22%! Cain 14%

Put the sexual allegations aside. Cain is destroying himself by his inability to intelligently answer foreign policy questions being put to him. He’s an admirable guy but he is hardly presidential material, especially, in these times.


97 posted on 11/15/2011 4:26:23 AM PST by IL1949
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Fred

Newt isn’t the conservative option. He’s the other GOP establishment candidate. He’ll continue Obama’s policies only for enlightened conservative reasons.


98 posted on 11/15/2011 4:40:19 AM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unkus

Interesting how the “media” has boxed Repub voters into a Newt-or-Mitt square. Once it`s determined Newt has some solified support, watch them tear into Newt`s past. This is going to make the Palin and Cain flaying look mild by comparison.


99 posted on 11/15/2011 4:58:08 AM PST by ScottinVA (I miss America.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Fred
Yet a look at his record reveals that Newt is hardly the "anti-Mitt" -- he's Mitt Romney with more baggage and bolder hand gestures.

Bingo. Once reality sets in, folks will be trying to talk themselves into supporting Perry again.

100 posted on 11/15/2011 5:00:31 AM PST by Huck (I predict record low turnout for the GOP primaries.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson