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Gingrich is Inspiring -- and Distubing
Wall Street Journal ^ | December 10, 2011 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 12/09/2011 3:59:33 AM PST by Carolyn826

I had a friend once who amused herself thinking up bumper stickers for states. The one she made up for California was brilliant. "California: It's All True." It is so vast and sprawling a place, so rich and various, that whatever you've heard about its wildness, weirdness and wonders, it's true.

That's the problem with Newt Gingrich: It's all true. It's part of the reason so many of those who know him are anxious about the thought of his becoming president. It's also why people are looking at him, thinking about him, considering him as president.

Ethically dubious? True. Intelligent and accomplished? True. Has he known breathtaking success and contributed to real reforms in government? Yes. Presided over disasters? Absolutely. Can he lead? Yes. Is he erratic and unreliable as a leader? Yes. Egomaniacal? True. Original and focused, harebrained and impulsive—all true.

Do you want evidence he's a Burkean conservative? Start with welfare reform in 1996. A sober, standard Republican? Go to the balanced budgets of the Clinton era. Is he a Tea Partier? Sure, he speaks the slashing lingo with relish. Is he moderate? Yes, that can be proved. Michele Bachmann this week called him a "frugal socialist," and there's plenty of evidence of that, too.

One way to view this is that he is so rich and varied as a character, as geniuses often are, that he contains worlds, multitudes. One senses that would be his way of looking at it. Another way to look at it: In a long career, one will shift views, adapt to circumstances, tack this way and that. Another way: He's philosophically unanchored, an unstable element. There are too many storms within him, and he seeks out external storms in order to equalize his own atmosphere.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gingrich; zots4romneybots
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To: Carolyn826
If you're a gambler, Gringrich may be your guy.

But if you want a sure thing, go for Obama.
21 posted on 12/09/2011 4:29:41 AM PST by aruanan
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To: Carolyn826

And yes....people do take the founder and owner of Free Republic seriously......because he’s right.


22 posted on 12/09/2011 4:30:51 AM PST by Solson (The Voters stole the election! And the establishment wants it back.)
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To: Carolyn826

Having Noonan as an enemy is something valuable in this race. Gingrich is lucky.


23 posted on 12/09/2011 4:31:37 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: Carolyn826
Yes, Mutt Romney is an abortion cheerleader.

Also, a queer agenda pushing, gun grabbing, global warming,inventor of Obomnycare.

A worthless NE liberal with issue views to the left of Ted Kennedy.

24 posted on 12/09/2011 4:33:04 AM PST by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: Carolyn826

Yes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7OQoBxZZPqU


25 posted on 12/09/2011 4:33:04 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Impeach the corrupt Marxist bastard!!)
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To: Carolyn826

Distubing?


26 posted on 12/09/2011 4:34:34 AM PST by cblue55 (It's either America, or Obama. It cannot be both!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Well said. For me, it is hard to believe my own support for Newt. A year ago, there was no way. Newt will be a good transition to 2016 or 2020 for a Bobby Jindal or a Nikki Hayley.


27 posted on 12/09/2011 4:37:01 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.)
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To: Beagle8U

Please define for us the path that Gingrich, or any other conservative president will use, where they march into the Supreme Court and demand that Roe v. Wade be overturned.


28 posted on 12/09/2011 4:40:27 AM PST by Carolyn826
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To: Carolyn826
Mitt Romney, abortionist? (do people really take you seriously?)

Are. You. Kidding. Me?

29 posted on 12/09/2011 4:41:02 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.)
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To: Jim Robinson

I am with you!


30 posted on 12/09/2011 4:42:02 AM PST by Dudoight
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To: Jim Robinson
What I don't like is—since the mainstream “conservative” media are as pro-Romney (they think he can beat Obama) as the MSM (they KNOW he can't beat Obama) there are few if any hit pieces on Mitt to post here on FR.
So in a way they force us to eat our own.
31 posted on 12/09/2011 4:42:45 AM PST by Happy Rain ("The Founders obviously anticipated Obama when they crafted the 2nd Amendment.")
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To: SF_Redux

I picked Newt four weeks ago. As yet, I have no remorse. Yes, I’d like to have a president with a pearly smile, great looking wife and tons of kids, who doesn’t drink or smoke and who would be the prefect role model for all of us, but let’s face it the times need a Churchill. We heard what Obama thinks about this country and they people innovate and create jobs. I don’t see Romney articulating any difference between himself and Obama as would Newt, and he’d be dependent on all those insiders who got him to the presidency. Newt on the other hand is being described as wild card and erratic. The same things they said about Reagan and Churchill for that matter, until people saw and heard Reagan at the debates and realized that he’s a good guy.

The primaries start now. It’s for Newt to lose. Americans love a winner and hate a loser, and the more the insiders hate and loathe him, Ann C included, the better he does.

Anyway that’s my opinion.


32 posted on 12/09/2011 4:44:01 AM PST by nikos1121
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To: Jim Robinson
"I’ll take a chance with Newt. Over Romney? You betcha!!"

I agree. Like I said earlier, Noot was my congressman in Ga many many moons ago. It looks like it is his to win or loose. As my tag line suggest I want endorse him because Romney is much worse, If Romney winds up the winner, I am not sure I can hold my nose long enough to vote for him. It was very hard to do the last time voting for MCLAIM. . . .

33 posted on 12/09/2011 4:44:33 AM PST by DeaconRed (I know how to get Grinch Ginrich to drop in the poles. He will if I endorse him. All my others did)
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To: Carolyn826

Well,I must say, all the right people hate him ! I’m starting to really like him.

I remember his days as speaker, the reason all congress critters who were around when he lead “palinized” him, no wonder they are anxious. Newt has scores to settle. term limits, anyone?

Rush nailed it, people have had enough of the GOP picking the candidate.


34 posted on 12/09/2011 4:46:22 AM PST by Reagan69 (I supported Sarah Palin and all I got was a lousy DVD !)
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To: Carolyn826
Rush reported yesterday that newt reaffirmed his support for the individual mandate... anyone supporting newt knowing this is supporting a socialist... a fat little turd of a man socialist.

LLS

35 posted on 12/09/2011 4:47:41 AM PST by LibLieSlayer ("Americans are hungry to feel once again a sense of mission and greatness." Ronaldo Magnus)
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To: Carolyn826; All

Interesting posting history you have. First page goes all the way back to 2007. Then you emerge, not to support a candidate, but to to join the bashing and detracting.

Hmmmm.

Welcome (back) to Free Republic.


36 posted on 12/09/2011 4:48:12 AM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.)
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To: Carolyn826
A pro life conservative will appoint judges that will overturn the ruling that made murder of babies legal. Something Romney has never done.

Are you too freaking stupid to understand that?

The next POTUS will pick two USSC judges.

37 posted on 12/09/2011 4:48:19 AM PST by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: Solson

Rush stated that yesterday newt reaffirmed his support for the INDIVIDUAL MANDATE... the cornerstone of obamacare... just before we try to destroy it early next year in the SCOTUS. You people are delusional.

LLS


38 posted on 12/09/2011 4:49:29 AM PST by LibLieSlayer ("Americans are hungry to feel once again a sense of mission and greatness." Ronaldo Magnus)
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To: Jim Robinson

Great post JR!

Newt, in addition to being a Conservative, is a realist. He understands that a President is not a dictator - which necessitates listening to experts in science, medicine, military etc., Sadly, those experts push their own agendas.

I pray that from his experience with the Gores, Pelosis and backstabbing RINOs he will always ‘trust but verify’.

He angered his ‘colleagues’ in Congress because he pushed back; their use of the adjective ‘untrustworthy’ to describe Newt is code for ‘he didn’t roll over’.

JMHO


39 posted on 12/09/2011 4:50:37 AM PST by sodpoodle ( Gingrich - flying solo - without congressional baggage!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Jim, Rush reported (yesterday) that newt reaffirmed his support for the Individual Mandate... obamacare’s cornerstone.

LLS


40 posted on 12/09/2011 4:50:47 AM PST by LibLieSlayer ("Americans are hungry to feel once again a sense of mission and greatness." Ronaldo Magnus)
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