Flashback: Kerry and Gingrich Hugging Trees -- and (Almost) Each Other

The Washington Post ^ | April 11, 2007 | Staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

Yesterday's global-warming debate between John Kerry and Newt Gingrich was, as the moderator put it, "advertised as a smack-down and a prizefight." But those labels were too modest for Kerry.

"Welcome to our environmental version of the Lincoln-Douglas debates," the former Democratic presidential nominee told the crowd in the Russell Caucus Room. "We flipped a coin, and I picked Lincoln."

But something funny happened on the way to 1858. Gingrich, a former Republican House speaker, refused to play Douglas to Kerry's Lincoln, instead positioning himself as a tree-hugging green.

Before Kerry got a word in, Gingrich conceded that global warming is real, that humans have contributed to it and that "we should address it very actively." Gingrich held up Kerry's new book, "This Moment on Earth," and called it "a very interesting read." He then added a personal note about saving vulnerable species from climate change. "My name, Newt, actually comes from the Danish Knut, and there's been a major crisis in Germany over a polar bear named Knut," he confided.

...

Kerry didn't know quite what to do with his agreeable opponent. "I'm a little confused about sort of where Newt comes from on this," he said at first. Later, Kerry tried to switch places with Gingrich, branding him a big-government liberal. "You know, this is a huge transition," he exclaimed. "You actually want the government to do it. I want the private sector to do it."

By the end of the debate, Lincoln/Kerry was embracing Douglas/Gingrich as a global-warming ally, saying things such as "What we need to do is what Newt just said."

"I'll lay odds if Newt Gingrich and I were responsible for making this happen, we could get in a room and in a week, we'd come up with a program and make it happen,"

[reaganator]

If it’s Perry vs Obama in 2012 I will vote for Perry.

He is not my choice for nominee though.

I want Gingrich to be the nominee, I believe he can adequately dismiss all negative issues the Obama Chicago political machine can bring up.

[montag813]

During the debate Perry demonstrated that America’s foe during the cold war was Russia. He must’ve said Russia three times.

Worse...he misquoted Reagan, saying "RUSSIA would end up in the ash heap of history". Painful.

[Happy Rain]

Cain can use a man like Newt to help navigate the DC cesspool.
Cain,not being a professional politician (his greatest virtue in that it means he is uncorrupted), needs a scout to point out which snakes in the pit are vipers and which are not.
If something happens to Cain and Newt becomes president? He would continue the Cain doctrine until he earns the right to install his own by winning the presidency himself.
He would indeed be a dishonorable sob if he were to do otherwise—and Newt ain’t THAT despicable.

[BarnacleCenturion]

“I have very much come around to wanting to vote for Speaker Gingrich”

Why? He says that urgent action is needed to stop global warming, he supported the obamacare mandate, he went along with Clinton’s tax hikes, he attacked Paul Ryan’s plan to cut entitlements, he supports Cap and Trade, Tarp, bailouts, etc.. wow can it get any worse?

[normy]

I appreciate your response. I remember when FR was like this. I understand why you like Newt. I like Newt too but I don't trust him to do the hard things when he gets to DC. If he does, great and of course I will vote for him vs. Obama.

[reaganator]

I was embarrassed for the man, Perry when he was stumbling through the “Russia” misquotes.

[Kartographer]

Simple put I did that last time and how did that work out for me?

There's a line form one of my all time favorite westerns 'Open Range that goes like this:

“You may not know this but there are things that gnaw at a man worse than dying“

And voting for a Rino or an inside the beltway Huckster is one of those things!

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Oh yeah me too.Seriously how many states is it too late in?

[SumProVita]

Yes, it could. We could have Obama again.

[normy]

I think you have the wrong perception of Cain. He is a DC insider. The NRA that he has been having all these troubles with was a lobbyist group which he ran for almost 3 years.His whole job was to rub elbows go to cocktail parties and get to know politicians. He was a top adviser to Dole/Kemp. He ran for Senate and for President.

He knows everybody in DC and everybody knows him.

I don't even know what the Cain doctrine is. If I were ever to consider voting for Cain I would just vote for Newt instead. Newt is the brains and the policy guy. Cain would just be a figure head.

There are 3 guys, Newt, Romney and Perry that have records to run on that are extensive and will also bring their own philosophy to DC.

[Kartographer]

And both Newt and Romney are insiders with a record of RINO acts and placating ‘DemonRATS’ and Perry Texas record is full of ‘Pay to Play’ that rivals that of Bill Richardson.

[normy]

I didn't see it that way. Especially after watching Cain fumble his questions on collective bargaining and Libya. It was the same reaction he had when he was asked the Medicare question.

Why on earth would a person ever vote for Cain if they are seriously considering Newt as an alternative?

If it really came down to Cain of Newt why not just pick the guy who already knows everything? Cain might be VP material but I don't know what he really offers a ticket.

If Newt were to get the nod I would think he would be smart to pick up a young policy wonk, say Paul Ryan.

Cain doesn't offer me anything that Perry doesn't already have except Cain doesn't have a record to examine. At least Newt does.

[LibsRJerks]

If it’s Gingrich vs Obama in 2012, I will vote for Gingrich.

Simply put, the Republican nominee, whoever he or she is to be, will not be out to intentionally, deliberately bankrupt America and destroy the private sector free market capitalist economy.

Obama has this intent.

****

You’re absolutely RIGHT. As much as I can’t stand Romney, as much “baggage” as Newt carries, as much lack of experience ANY of these candidates carry, whomever gets the nomination will be fine and will NOT, as you say, have the underlying intention of taking down America. I really do not feel, as putrid even as Romney is, that he has that intent ....(and I am a total in the tank Cain supporter, just for the record).

Really — all of us here need to have this in the front of our minds. They way everyone goes about attacking each and every candidate just weaknens us in the eyes of our opponents.

I WILL pull the lever for Anybody But Obama — ought to be the mantra. We don’t do it and the guy’s gonna be in for a second term.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

blah blah blah blah Obama is for Obama and Perry is for Perry and noot is for noot and congress is for congress (AND INSIDER TRADING) and senate is for senate but the dems are for themselves,class/race warfare,tyranny of OBAMA WITH THE MSM HELP.

I fully realize today is bash Newt until he makes a comment that MSNBC and Joe laugh and mock day/week but at least state who it is you are backing to downplay Gingrich.Sheeesh...

[normy]

I don’t know but someone would be smart to start throwing his name around as a VP choice.

[reaganator]

WhoEVER the Republican nominee is to be, he or she will not be intent on deliberately bankrupting America and destroying the private sector free market capitalist economy.

Obama will continue this destruction if re-elected.

A stay home no vote will be just as helpful to Obama’s re-election as an Obama vote.

Not voting for the Republican nominee because he or she is not acceptable to you will re-elect Obama.

How much will that “gnaw at you” knowing that you helped re-elect Obama?

[BarnacleCenturion]

“We could have Obama again.”

Obama is not running for the republican nomination. This is a classic “take my RINO or the sky will fall” BS.

Gingrich will not win the republican nomination but he may very well prevent Cain from winning it. And Perry as they say is already dead.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Cain is far, far more electable at the top of the ticket than Newt is.

I hope they run together as a team. But Gingrich should be the VP, for campaign reasons.

(yes I’m absolutely, guilty as charged Machiavellian that way)

Winning matters.

[SumProVita]

Personally, I am tired of this cliche: This is a classic “take my RINO or the sky will fall” BS.

By the way, I’m still watching Perry too.....and Cain. ;-)

[Kartographer]

Its your type of thinking is what got us in that mess to begin with. Anything is acceptable as long as your side wins and look where that's got us.

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"
Mark 8:36

Keep selling out and see what it gets you.