Newt will never, ever be GOP nominee

Washington Post ^ | 11/15/2011 | Jonathan Bernstein

[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

[Belteshazzar]

You’re right.

[b9]

Thanks so much for the terrific Newt highlights!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=90Q8nn3RDyE

[Belteshazzar]

Timber Rattler wrote:
“burn down the corrupt GOP-E, and then rebuild it from the ground up ...”

You’re a conservative, huh? Interesting tactic for a conservative.

[sodpoodle]

I believe most of his supporters don’t ‘LOVE’ Newt - which is a good thing.

Those of us who had a personal affection or empathy for George Bush (and now Herman Cain) need to remember how the MSM belittled and demeaned his intelligence. Beat him to a pulp and Karl Rove just nodded his big head. I’m still angry.

With Newt we could sit back and enjoy his ripping the media and the morons in Congress to shreds, since he would not have to reach across the aisle.

If he disappoints on some policies he will not break our hearts;)

[b9]

You said it!

Newt’s my Yogi.
Smarter than the average bear.

What a shredder!
I wonder if we’re smart enough to deserve him.

[Timber Rattler]

You’re a conservative, huh? Interesting tactic for a conservative.

You do know that the GOP-E is no longer Conservative, if it ever was, and that it desperately needs to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch, getting rid of all the dead RINO wood in the process? Right?

Or are you content with the status quo?

[b9]

You’ve inspired me, little ridge runner, to make another Freepathon donation.

Have you made one lately?

[hinckley buzzard]

Newt Gingrich is gaining in the polls for one reason: his debate performance is so far above all the rest of the field, he is like a man among children.

Face it. He is the most qualified candidate of either party by a wide margin. No other, including obama, can touch him on knowledge and experience, and yes debating skills.

Resistance is futile...

[Belteshazzar]

My dear, Rattler, there is quite a lot of ground between the “status quo” and burning and tearing down everything. I think I have made it quite clear that I am not happy with the “status quo.” But I see no future in burning everything down since I know that building up is so very much harder to do than tearing down.

How about if we simply concentrate on moving out the dead wood from the Republican Party, i.e., the RINOs, and replacing them with real conservatives, who will take seriously the Constitution and its intent. This will always be an ongoing process.

Now if you want to tear down something, turn your attention to the federal government, and start looking at those parts of it that are clearly outside the scope of the government’s proper functions (as defined by the Constitution) and which, not coincidently, show the incompetence of the government to administer such activities. For example, why do we have a Department of Energy? To be sure, to have some sort of governmental regulatory authority for the purpose of maintaining safety and a truly level playing field for business is in order, but an entire department for an entity that produces no energy? I think this is an obvious example of overreach and arrogation of power. And because it is such, it is rife with corruption, rife with people trying to justify their paychecks by finding ever more things to administer and do.

There is so much that could be so much better administered by state and local government, or simply left to private industry.

[Timber Rattler]

How about if we simply concentrate on moving out the dead wood from the Republican Party, i.e., the RINOs, and replacing them with real conservatives, who will take seriously the Constitution and its intent. This will always be an ongoing process.

You can't do that when you're supporting the likes of New Gingrich for President. He's one of the chief RINOs, but many around here deliberately want to forget about that these days.

[Belteshazzar]

Your alternative leaves the White House to Obama this election cycle. How is that going to help?

[left that other site]

Yes. I was thinking of the 11th commandment when I posted to you.

I wish people would just PROMOTE their favorite candidate, not tear down the others.

[oyez]

but none of the Republican candidates can be President because of their inherent character flaws.

If the MSM couldn't find any character flaws on someone, then that candidate would be too "Goody-goody."

[Libertarian444]

The Washington Post is dead set against Newt? Well that seals it for me. Newt’s my man.

Well, to be completely fair, the Washington Post is against anybody who's not Barrack Hussein Obama.

[Principled]

indeed.

There have been two conservative revolutions in my lifetime, Ronald Reagan led one of them and Newt Gingrich inspired the other.

There have been four budgets balanced in my lifetime and Newt Gingrich balanced them all.

There have been two historic upset elections in my lifetime for the House of Representatives, Barak Obama caused one of them and Newt Gingrich crafted the other.

Two entitlements, Social Security and welfare have been reformed in my lifetime, the former occurred under Ronald Reagan and the latter was done by Newt Gingrich.

The government has been shut down twice to reduce spending and Gingrich did it both times.

[South40]

This Rick Perry dude is faithful, conservative,

La Raza Rick Perry is not conservative. He's barely right of Mitt Romney. Crony capitalism, Gardasil, TTC, instate tuition for ILLEGAL aliens, the list goes on.

I hope the day never comes I have to vote for the likes of Perry. I would do so should it be him against Obama but thankfully, he is making sure that day will never come.

[AwesomePossum]

The reply was not a statement, but a question...........so, if you would like to, post the "entire quote", or, the "whole speech", and, while you're at it, you might consider taking a chill pill.............

P.S. I am not a weasel.......8:}

[Timber Rattler]

Your alternative leaves the White House to Obama this election cycle.

Then so be it. The GOP-E desperately needs to be cleaned out, and that will NEVER happen as long as people keep "holding noses" and voting for "lesser evils." The party poo-bahs count on that to stay in power.

[Belteshazzar]

I see. You are advocating the politics of wishful thinking. That’ll fix everything.