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Newt will never, ever be GOP nominee
Washington Post ^ | 11/15/2011 | Jonathan Bernstein

Posted on 11/15/2011 10:33:39 AM PST by presidio9

Yes, Newt Gingrich has spiked in the polls. No, he’s not going to be the nominee. I’ve been trying to duck this one because it feels like laying out the obvious, but, briefly, three reasons:

1. The baggage he’s always had — the marital difficulties, the ethics troubles, a whole bunch of deviations from conservative orthodoxy over the years (such as that ad he shot with Nancy Pelosi: “Our country must take action to address climate change”) — just isn’t going to go away. Republican voters don’t have those things in mind at the moment, but no candidate is more vulnerable to attack ads than the former Speaker.

2. Message discipline, lack thereof. It’s impossible to imagine Newt not saying something that hurts him if there’s a microphone in front of his face for a three-week stretch, which is what wouldgoing to happen if the press decides he actually has a chance at winning this thing. We have a couple decades of evidence, including earlier this year, showing that he’s just not able to do it. For whatever it’s worth, I’d add that as I read the polling over the years, Newt’s basic act is unlikely to wear well with voters after extended exposure. People just don’t like the guy.

3. Both of those might be overcome, but this one won’t: it’s highly unlikely that anyone who worked with Newt Gingrich when he was Speaker would want him anywhere near the White House. As detailed in many places, but perhaps most memorably by David Maraniss and Michael Weisskopf in their

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


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: drivebymedia; newt; reevaluategingrich; wapo
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To: org.whodat
Wrong, Palin had 27% negatives and had always had, but most people Freepers and Tea Partiers still liked and respected her.

No charge!!

Not only Freepers and Tea Partiers get to vote, more's the pity.

101 posted on 11/15/2011 11:34:05 AM PST by Notary Sojac
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To: Double Tap
Kinda leaving out the second marriage and the affair with Callista there in your little essay. Newt leading the charge against Clinton while banging a woman 23 years his junior... yeah, he has some good ethics there.

As a Christian, I take Newt at his word that he has undergone a religious epiphany. Personally, I have never been that interested in a candidate's personal life. My concern was with the story of the first wife, how the press keeps alluding to it, and how it will inevitably destroy him. I think Newt has been smart to ignore it, and let it build up as much as possible. When he eventually does blow the myth out of the water with facts, I bet no one will care that much that he had an affair with wife number three. My posting interest in FR has always been on the psychology of the electorate.

102 posted on 11/15/2011 11:34:05 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: org.whodat

I will just wait until she appears on FOX tonight, maybe she will share her preference. She has spoken favorably of Newt recently, so we shall see.


103 posted on 11/15/2011 11:36:01 AM PST by itsahoot (There was a bloodless coup in 08, and no one seemed to notice. God help us.)
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To: Fawn; South40
Why is he a RINO?? He’s the best candidate.
Because he's not South40's pick, that's why.

Once South40 makes a pick, everyone else, including all other posters in FR who dare to disagree with him, are RINOs.

Those are the rules.

Don't like 'em?

Too bad.

Rules is rules, Fawn.

Rules.
Is.
Rules.

104 posted on 11/15/2011 11:37:15 AM PST by samtheman
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To: jessduntno
No it was a lame ass attempt to equate a great man and leader to a little Bonapart.
105 posted on 11/15/2011 11:37:15 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: presidio9

Newt is the desperation candidate because he sounds great in the debates.

But you can’t trust him. He is establishment and not trustworthy.

He is all over the place people. He will also lose.


106 posted on 11/15/2011 11:38:59 AM PST by dforest
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To: samtheman

I agree. The choices are going to be Mitt, Herman or Newt. I can live with Newt or Herman although I’m leaning more toward Newt as knowlege of foriegn policy is especially important right now.


107 posted on 11/15/2011 11:39:16 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: MHGinTN

CFS.

That’s one way of describing them.

I can think of other ways.


108 posted on 11/15/2011 11:39:47 AM PST by samtheman
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To: org.whodat

“No it was a lame ass attempt to equate a great man and leader to a little Bonapart.”

Funny how history becomes a “lame ass attempt” at something when you’re as wrong as often as you, isn’t it, Skippy? My point was that many great men make many great mistakes and yet become terrific leaders. You are just a poor sap that can’t see that. I pity your blind partisanship. Wake up, son, there’s a big scary and ugly world full of truth out there...one with which you should acquaint yourself.


109 posted on 11/15/2011 11:42:28 AM PST by jessduntno ("They say the world has become too complex for simple answers... they are wrong." - RR)
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To: left that other site
The ONLY candidate who has not been attacked by the left is Mitt Romney. Why IS that, I wonder? Could it be that they think that obama could easily beat him, or that a Romney Administration would allow the left to continue in its nefarious degradation of Our Beloved Nation?

The left is rooting for Romney, because Obamacare (one of our most powerful clear-cut campaign issues) gets neutralized if he wins the nomination. After South Carolina, this election will be about Romney Vs. "not Romeny." It is appropriate for us here on this conservative website to vet every alternative, and then to stand behind the strongest "not Romeny," even if we sometimes disagree with him. The alternative is Romney himself. This is how we wound up with McCain three years ago. It is also why (at this point in the election cycle) if people want to come on threads attacking a particular "not Romney" candidate, the responsible approach is "I prefer Mr. X, because..." or "I'm not voting for Newt because he's a RINO. or because of that picture with Pelosi, about which I can't really explain," is not helpful and is in violation of Reagan's 11 Commandment.

110 posted on 11/15/2011 11:42:32 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

I agree with you completely. Either Herman or Newt. Either one would be good, my personal preference would be Newt, but if Herman gets the nomination I’m behind him all the way.

No Romney, and the others aren’t really in the race.

At some point I’d like to see Newt and Herman make a gentleman’s agreement to team up, once it’s clear one is clearly ahead of the other.

Whichever one it is.


111 posted on 11/15/2011 11:42:33 AM PST by samtheman
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To: jessduntno
Newt is the best candidate we have and if we don’t start pulling together to tell the MSM that just like in 2010, they won’t be picking our candidates anymore, we’ve lost anyway.

At least he's coherent and doesn't speak in vague generalities such as, "I'll check with my advisors."

Those not old enough, or not paying attention in 1994 to have heard of "Contract with America," may want to listen to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_hd23sdf4CE

Furthermore, no one, other than Gingrich has laid out ANY plans on their web sites nor offered anything definitive in their ads. Their tired, old mantra of "Getting America back on track" is pure BS. We heard this crap back in '08 from Obama and Hillary.

112 posted on 11/15/2011 11:42:37 AM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common anymore.)
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To: samtheman

So tell me Sam, how’s that Cat herding thingie going for you? I gave up months ago.


113 posted on 11/15/2011 11:43:04 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

About as good as can be expected.


114 posted on 11/15/2011 11:45:02 AM PST by samtheman
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To: Belteshazzar
Most people have no problem with newt as vp, I mean look at the current clown, but newt loves to run that mouth, so clintoons job would be better. Bachmann should be VP. Cain/Bachmann, the MSNM, would die.
115 posted on 11/15/2011 11:47:26 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: presidio9
The sad fact is, that as a nation, we choose our presidents based on television and the appearance of being intelligent.

Sadly again, most voters don't begin paying attention to the election until the debates. The debates have become far more important than they should, but there it is.

Newt is the only one in the field who has what it takes to bi*ch slap the Kenyan in the debates. That bodes well for us if he can keep his ego and foot in mouth disease under control.

116 posted on 11/15/2011 11:47:32 AM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: samtheman; South40

Newt’s my favorite. He’ll get my vote...


117 posted on 11/15/2011 11:47:45 AM PST by Fawn (No TO PERRY!!!!!!!!! Vote for Newt)
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To: South40
No RINOs, no Newt, no thanks.

You'll need a fresh supply of these:


118 posted on 11/15/2011 11:48:55 AM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common anymore.)
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To: Deb; South40
Please name me one candidate for President who has not been called a RINO on this site. Maybe you could name one elected official who has not been labeled a RINO.

Since the biggest fans of the term have always been liberaltarians, if I had to guess, I'd probably go with Ron Paul. But there has to be some John Bircher somewhere who suspects that even Paul's ideas aren't quite goofy enough.

119 posted on 11/15/2011 11:49:46 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: Cobra64

“At least he’s coherent and doesn’t speak in vague generalities such as, ‘I’ll check with my advisors.’”

Or say, “Duh. That’s above my pay grade.” I love that he gives straight answers.


120 posted on 11/15/2011 11:52:06 AM PST by MayflowerMadam
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